Mangaluru : Senior Yakshagana playback singer Hosthota Manjunatha Bhagawatha has been chosen for this year’s Sheni Award.

Sheni Gopalakrishna Bhat Charitable Trust, Surathkal, presents this annual award in the name of late Sheni Gopalakrishna Bhat who was a doyen of the coastal art form.

The award, which carries a purse of Rs. 20,000 and a citation, would be presented to the 75-year-old at a function at Jnanashakthi Subrahmanya Temple, Pavanje, on July 19 at 5 p.m., a release said. Mr. Manjunatha would be the 15th recipient of the award. He has written more than 200 Yakshagana ‘prasangas’ (scripts).

As a prelude, on July 18 two talamaddales are to be held on the temple premises from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. They were Bhaktha Mayuradhwaja and Partha Sarathya. There would be a day-long Yakshagana bayalata ‘Yashotmati Yekavali Vivaha’ at the same venue from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. on July 19.