M. K. Seetharam Kulal was a dramatist known for his work in the field of Tulu-Kannada dramas and also in the Tulu film world. He has given several skit performances at Sri Sharav Maha Ganapathi Temple, Mangalore. Kulal received the “Ranga Kala Bhooshana” award at a function held in the Town Hall of Mangalore in 2001. He became the President of Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy in 2005, succeeding Dr Vaman Nandavar. Kulal has written the Tulu-language books Mannda Magal Abbakka (Queen Abbakka: Daughter of the Soil) and Darmogu Darmada Saval, which were published in 2007. In 2015, Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy honoured Kulal with a Tulu Academy Award for his work in Tulu theatre. He has written the popular “Mokeda Singari” song for a Tulu film.
He was born to M. Kanthappa and Devaki Kanthappa in the year 1940 in a small village called Kolnadu in Bantwal Taluk. His father was popularly known as Kanthappa Master, a school teacher first, but then he joined the Revenue Department as Rural Welfare Officer. Later, he became an accountant in the District Co-Operative Department and retired there. He had written the Math textbooks for 4th and 5th standards when he was a school teacher. During the Second World War, he was rewarded with Rs.100/- by the then Madras Government for writing a poem related to the War. Kanthappa Master was also a good Tabla player and amateur drama artist.
Sitharam Kulal studied till S.S.L.C. from Madras Government and served for United India Insurance Company for many years, before retiring as Senior Branch Manager in the year 2000. Later he became the Enquiry Officer in the same Company for a few years, before he took charge as The President of Karnataka Tulu Academy in the year 2005. He married Shubha in the year 1985, who has been inspirational for him in his work
