Karwar: Prominent Yakshagana artist Jalavalli Venkatesh Rao (86) passed away, here on Wednesday, March 6.
Jalavalli Rao was suffering from age-related ailments for sometime.
He was availing treatment in TSS Hospital, Sirsi and breathed his last as he did not respond to the treatment.
Jalavalli Venkatesh Rao was fascinated towards the folk art form Yakshagana at the age of 18.
It is been over six decades that he has contributed immensely towards this field.
He was famously called as “Shanishwara” (planet Saturn which is believed to be God named ‘Shani’ according to Hindu mythology).
He retired from the field of Yakshagana at the age of 70.