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Balakrishna Nayak was involved himself in his childhood in the Handadi Subbanna Bhat’s Yakshagana troupe and actively participated in Yakshagana costume design. Later, he joined his uncle Devendra Nayak’s troupe. In 1990, he started the Shri Gajanan Yakshagana Costume Design Institute and continued to serve until his last days. He is survived by his wife and three sons.
Balakrishna Nayak was famous for preparing costumes for hundreds of Yakshagana troupes and thousands of amateur artists. He was known for his expertise in traditional makeup techniques and for creating costumes suitable for various performances. He was popularly known in the Yakshagana community as Ballu Nayak or Ballu Maam.
He received numerous honors, including the Karnataka Government’s Yakshagana Academy Kala Siri Award, District Rajyotsava Award, Karnataka Kaladarshini, and Ajapura Yakshagana Sangha’s Endowment Award. He also served as the president of the Handadi Shri Nandikeshwara Temple Renovation Committee, Shri Bobbarya Parihara Temple Management Committee, and Shri Ram Bhajan Mandali.