MANGALURU: Ajit Ganapat Shenvi Kerkar and Vidya Pai have been chosen for the newly instituted awards by the World Konkani Centre this year in the name of its chief Patron Dr P Dayananda Pai Vishwa Konkani Puraskar 2022.
While Ajit Ganapat Shenvi Kerkar, has been chosen for the Dr P Dayananda Pai Vishwa Konkani Ranga Shreshta Puraskar 2022, considering the lifetime contribution to the field of theatre and their contribution to the Konkani cause, Vidya Pai, has been chosen for the Anuvada Puraskar 2022, considering the enormity and impact of her translation work of Konkani Literature into English resulting in worldwide exposure for the Konkani literature, stated Nandagopal Shenoy, President, Konkani Bhas Ani Sanskriti Prathistan, World Konkani Centre.
They were selected based on the nominations submitted by the general public and evaluated by the jury committee of eminent personalities.
Both the above awards carry Rs. 1 lakh each prize money and award plaque. The awards will be bestowed upon the recipients during the Vishwa Konkani Awards Ceremony to be held on February 9, in the presence of Dayananda Pai and other dignitaries.
Profile of awardees: Kerkar has served the Konkani Theatre scene in the past 54 years in Goa. Today at 72 years of age, he still continues to be in the field of Konkani theatre by acting, directing and designing the sets for Konkani dramas. So far has acted in 89 Productions and directed 43 Production of Dramas with innumerable shows across Goa and Maharashtra. All in all, he was instrumental in the success of 143 theatrical productions. He has won 43 Special Awards in Dramas (35 for Acting, four for Direction and four for Set Designing). Kerkar is the only actor in Goa to have won the state-level best actor award seven times, including four times in a row. He has won the Best Director award three times at the state level.
Vidya Pai lives in Kolkata. She has translated Konkani’s 68 Short Stories and seven novels into English and published in reputed publications all across the world. Konkani literature has travelled across other Indian Languages based on the works translated into English by Vidya Pai.
While Ajit Ganapat Shenvi Kerkar, has been chosen for the Dr P Dayananda Pai Vishwa Konkani Ranga Shreshta Puraskar 2022, considering the lifetime contribution to the field of theatre and their contribution to the Konkani cause, Vidya Pai, has been chosen for the Anuvada Puraskar 2022, considering the enormity and impact of her translation work of Konkani Literature into English resulting in worldwide exposure for the Konkani literature, stated Nandagopal Shenoy, President, Konkani Bhas Ani Sanskriti Prathistan, World Konkani Centre.
They were selected based on the nominations submitted by the general public and evaluated by the jury committee of eminent personalities.
Both the above awards carry Rs. 1 lakh each prize money and award plaque. The awards will be bestowed upon the recipients during the Vishwa Konkani Awards Ceremony to be held on February 9, in the presence of Dayananda Pai and other dignitaries.
Profile of awardees: Kerkar has served the Konkani Theatre scene in the past 54 years in Goa. Today at 72 years of age, he still continues to be in the field of Konkani theatre by acting, directing and designing the sets for Konkani dramas. So far has acted in 89 Productions and directed 43 Production of Dramas with innumerable shows across Goa and Maharashtra. All in all, he was instrumental in the success of 143 theatrical productions. He has won 43 Special Awards in Dramas (35 for Acting, four for Direction and four for Set Designing). Kerkar is the only actor in Goa to have won the state-level best actor award seven times, including four times in a row. He has won the Best Director award three times at the state level.
Vidya Pai lives in Kolkata. She has translated Konkani’s 68 Short Stories and seven novels into English and published in reputed publications all across the world. Konkani literature has travelled across other Indian Languages based on the works translated into English by Vidya Pai.