Mangaluru: Veteran Yakshagana artiste Chittani Ramachandra Hegde passed away at KMC hospital in Manipal on Tuesday night, due to pneumonia. He was 84. He was admitted to the intensive care unit in Manipal on Friday.

One of the most popular Yakshagana artistes, Chittani, as he was widely known, hailed from Honnavar in Uttara Kannada district. He was the first among Yakshagana artistes to receive Padma Shri award.

Hegde, who was performing Yakshagana for over seven decades, was on stage in the Yakshaganas staged as part of Navaratri celebrations in Bangarmakki village between September 21 and 25, where he donned the role of the father of Bheeshma in a mythological Yakshagana.

He is much famed for ‘Kaurava,’ ‘Bhasmasura,’ ‘Keechaka,’ ‘Karna’ and ‘Kamsa’ roles in Yakshagana and his style is popularly known as ‘Chittani style.’ He is survived by four children, including two sons, also Yakshagana artistes. His eye were donated.