Bengaluru: Noted actor, filmmaker and playwright Girish Karnad passed away on Monday. He was 81. Karnad succumbed to a prolonged illness at his residence in Vittal Mallya Road, Bengaluru. The medical reports says that the actor passed away after multiple organ failure.
Girish Karnad predominantly worked in South Indian cinema and Bollywood. He rose to prominence with his coming of age of modern Indian playwriting in Kannada. He was a recipient of the 1998 Jnanpith Award, the highest literary honour conferred in India. He was also conferred the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, and had won several accolades for direction in Kannada cinema.
Girish Karnad, who often used history and mythology to tackle contemporary issues, had his works translated into various Indian languages and helmed by directors like Ebrahim Alkazi, B V Karanth and Alyque Padamsee among others.
Girish Karnad had made his acting as well as screenwriting debut with a 1970 Kannada movie Samskara. The film, based on a novel by UR Ananthamurthy and directed by Pattabhirama Reddy, won the first President’s Golden Lotus Award for Kannada cinema.
“Girish Karnad will be remembered for his versatile acting across all mediums. He also spoke passionately on causes dear to him. His works will continue being popular in the years to come. Saddened by his demise. May his soul rest in peace.” PM Narendra Modi tweeted.
The funeral will take place today at Kalpalli electric crematorium in Byappanahalli, Bengaluru.
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