Padma Shri awardee folk singer Sukri Bommagowda dies at the age of 88

KARWAR: Folk singer Sukri Bommagowda, who was conferred with the Padma Shri award in 2017 for her contribution to Halakki tribal music, died at the age of 88 at a private hospital in Manipal where she was undergoing treatment, on Thursday.

Sukrajji, as she was popularly known, had been undergoing treatment for the last few days and died early on Thursday due to breathing complications. She was laid to rest in her fields at Keni as per her wishes with full state honours and the district administration honoured her by naming the road leading to Badigeri after her.

Condoling her death, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah posted on X, “The loss to the cultural world caused by the death of renowned folk singer Sukri Bommagowda cannot be compensated. She was a born artist. Music was the life of ‘Sukrajji’, who became world famous through Halakki folk songs”.

ಪ್ರಖ್ಯಾತ ಜಾನಪದ ಗಾಯಕಿ ಸುಕ್ರಿ ಬೊಮ್ಮಗೌಡ ಅವರ ನಿಧನ‌ದಿಂದ ಸಾಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಕ ಲೋಕಕ್ಕೆ ಆಗಿರುವ ನಷ್ಟ ತುಂಬಲು ಸಾಧ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲ. ಅವರೊಬ್ಬರು ಹುಟ್ಟು ಕಲಾವಿದೆ.

ಹಾಲಕ್ಕಿ ಜಾನಪದ ಹಾಡುಗಳ ಮೂಲಕವೇ ಲೋಕಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧರಾಗಿದ್ದ “ಸುಕ್ರಜ್ಜಿ” ಅವರಿಗೆ ಸಂಗೀತವೇ ಬದುಕಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಸಂಗೀತದ ಜೊತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮಧ್ಯಪಾನ ವಿರೋಧಿ ಆಂದೋಲನದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಸಕ್ರಿಯರಾಗಿದ್ದ… pic.twitter.com/PEajjzXuEQ

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) February 13, 2025

“Along with music, Sukri Bommagowda, who was also active in the anti-alcohol movement, has a life and achievements that are exemplary. Sukraji, who won the Padma Shri award for her services to the musical arts, was the recipient of several awards, including the Nadoja Award from Hampi University. I share in the grief of the relatives and friends who have lost Sukri Bommagowda”, he added.

Sukri Bommagowda was born at Badigeri village in Ankola taluk and got married at an early age. However, her husband passed away soon after and Sukri Bommagowda worked as a labourer and sold vegetables to mae a living. It was during this time that she sang the Halakki tribals songs and also taught others.

Sukri Bommagowda’s work was recognised by the Karnataka government in 1988 and she later received multiple state awards and honours for her contributions to arts and music, including the Nadoja Award, and the Janapada Shri Award. Yet, she continued to live in a hut and some private organisations pitched in to build her a house.