Legendary film maker, playright, actor and director Girish Karnad is no more

Renowned film actor of Southern films and Bollywood movies and a plyright , predominantly popular as an actor of art movies, an intellectual actor Girish Karnad is no more.

He breathed his last on Monday at his Vittal Mallaya Road, Bengaluru residence after suffering from a prolonged illness and undergoing treatment at the age of 81 years.

Recipient of several coveted awards for his outstanding contribution in Southern and Indian films including as a playright at the hands of president of India as well, Girish Karnad’s death has created a great vaccum in not only the film industry of the South but Bollywood as well.

Recipient of the prestigious1981 Jnanpith award , a towering literary award honoured in India, Girish Karnad was also the recipient of coveted Padma Bhushan and Padmashree conferred on him by the successive presidents of India.

In addition to these prestigious honours for his writings, playrights and direction in Kanada and Hindi films, Karnad also acknowleged several awards at various levels.

Karnad’s works had been duly translated in several languages as he was extremely perfect and experienced in using history and mythology to deal with cotemporary issues in his films.

Girish Karnad entered the acting and script writing career in the year 1970 for the very first time and has acted in hundreds of films from Kannada to Bollywood during the protracted span of five decades putting his special mark and impression on his million of fans and cine goers around the globe.

Born on 19th November, 1938 Girish Raghunath Karnad’s rise as a playright in the 1960s marked the coming of age of modern Indian play writing in Kannada just as Badal Sarkar in Bengali dialect, Vijay Tendulkar in Marathi and Mohan Rakes in Hindi.

His prominent plays have been translated by eminent directors like Ebraham Elkaji, Alyque Padamsee, Prasanna, Arvind Gaur, Satyadev Dubey, Vijaya Mehta,, Shyamanand Jalan, Amal Allana and Zafar Mohiuddin.

In Hindi cinema too Karnad’s contribution as an actor, writer and director was immeasurable.

He is also credited for directing several movies viz : Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane in Kannada in 1977, Godhuli in Hindi in 1977, Ondanondu Kalladali in Kannada in 1978, Kanooru Heggadithi in Kannada, Durga in Mahendar, Utsav in Hindi, Woh Ghar in Hindi in 1984 based on Kirtinath’s Kannada play Aa Manilay.

All these movies were block bustre at box office. He is also credited for winning four film fare awards for best director and one for best direction / screenplay for Kannada films.

The nation has lost a highly talented, experienced and creative legendary film maker, author, actor and a theatre artist with decades of experience and intellectual output.

The entire nation mourns his sad end.

Prime minister Narendra Modi express his grief over the legendary actor’s demise. He tweeted : 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 the demise. May his soul rest in peace.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi also expressed his condolences through a tweet : Playright, actor, director but above all a great human being, in Girish Karnad’s passing, India has lost a beloved son, whose memor will live on in the vast treasure trove of creative work he leaves behind. My condolences to his family and fans around the world.