Mangaluru : Chandrahasa Hudugodu, a Yakshagana artiste, died while performing on the stage near Baindoor in Udupi district at about 11.30 p.m. on March 10.

Hudugodu, 50, was also the president of Hadinabalu Gram Panchayat, near Honnavara, in Uttara Kannada district.

According to sources, he was performing the role of Salva in “Bheeshma Vijaya” episode in Jalavalli Yakshagana Mela (which is a touring troupe) when he collapsed due to suspected cardiac arrest. Though he was immediately shifted to a hospital in Baindoor, he could not be saved. His son Pradeep had accompanied the father to the show. The all-night performance was called off later.

The mela had invited Hudugodu to perform as a guest artiste in Yeljit-Painadi village near Baindoor.

Hudugodu, a professional artiste in Saligrama Yakshagana Mela had quit it about four years ago to perform as a guest artiste in different melas of Badagu Thittu (northern) school of Yakshagana on invitation. He had floated Kalashree Natya Tanda, Hudugodu, Honnavara which was a group of amateur Yakshagana artistes. Its artistes used to present short-duration Yakshagana shows on invitation.

Meantime, he also entered the politics to become the president of the panchayat.

He was well known for performing the characters such as Salva, Keechaka, Kaurava, Karthaveerya and the like.

Earlier, noted Yakshagana artistes like Keremane Shambhu Hegde, Siriyara Manju Naika, Gerukatte Gangayya Shetty had also died while performing on the stage.