Gubbi Veeranna

Gubbi Veeranna (1891 – 1972) was an Indian theatre director and artist and an awardee of the prestigious Padmashree conferred by the President of India. He was one of the pioneers and most prolific contributors to Kannada theatre. He established the drama company, "Gubbi Sree Channabasaveshwara Nataka Company", which played a crucial role in promoting the Kannada theatre field. He is conferred the title Nataka Ratna meaning "A Precious Jewel" in the theatre world. Gubbi Veeranna Nataka Company is the first theatre company in Karnataka to employ female artists to portray female characters on the stage. Elephants and horses were also brought on stage in war scenes of Kurukshetra, There is a popular saying that the story of Gubbi Veeranna's company is itself the story of the Kannada theatre, which indicates the popularity of this company in the theatre world. Apart from theatre, Gubbi Veeranna has also produced films and acted in them as well. In 1955, he was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for acting, given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama, and the highest Indian recognition given to practising artists . The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 1972, for his contributions to arts.