Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar (born 1 May 1943) is a Gondhali folk artist from Bagalkote, Karnataka, India.[1] He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2025 for his contributions towards preserving the Gondhali art form.[2][3]
Early life[edit | edit source]
Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar was born into the ghumantu samaj (the Alemari community) in 1943. He learned Gondhali folk music from his father and grandfather. He never received formal schooling.[4][5][1]
Career[edit | edit source]
Sugatekar started performing from the age of 10, and continued to for the next seven decades. He has sung and recited over 150 long-form mythological stories and over 1,000 Gondhali songs. Known as the "Bhishma of Gondhali music", he has performed domestically and internationally, through radio, TV and other platforms.[1][4]
He has taught over 1000 students free-of-cost to encourage the survival of Gondhali folk music.[5][6]
In 2022, an honorary doctorate was conferred upon him by the Karnataka Folklore University.[7]
Recognitions[edit | edit source]
- 2025 - Padma Shri, by the Government of India.[2]
- 2017 - Janapadshri Award[3]
- 2012 - Rajyotsava Award, by the Government of Karnataka[3]
- 2004 - Kanataka Janapad Yakshagana Academy Award[3]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Union Minister Pralhad Joshi honours Padma Shri awardee Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar". The Economic Times. 2025-01-26. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Padma Awards 2025 announced". www.pib.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2025-08-09. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Bahadurdesai, B. Rishikesh (2025-02-21). "Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar: Veteran Gondhali artiste who infuses modernism into a medieval art form". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "On Padma Shri list, folk artistes, health experts". The Indian Express. 2025-01-26. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Kengeri, Diganth (2024-02-28). "Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar: Karnataka's folk music legend". The Siasat Daily. Retrieved 2025-09-09.
- ↑ Bharat, E. T. V. (2025-02-02). "ಪದ್ಮಶ್ರೀ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ವಿಜೇತ ಕಲಾವಿದ ವೆಂಕಪ್ಪರಿಗೆ ಜಿಲ್ಲಾಡಳಿತದಿಂದ ಸನ್ಮಾನ". ETV Bharat News (in ಕನ್ನಡ). Retrieved 2025-09-09.
- ↑ "Karnataka Folk Singer Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar Receives Praise From PM Modi On Mann Ki Baat". News18. Retrieved 2025-09-09.