Veteran actor Girish Karnad passes away at 81

Veteran film and theatre personality Girish Karnad passed away on Monday morning at the age of 81


Veteran actor Girish Karnad passes away at 81

- Sunil Sharma, DNA Research & Archives

Jnanpith awardee Girish Karnad passed away this morning. He was 81 and suffered from multiple-organ failure. He has been a prolific personality and has made a place in Indian cinema and theatre too. In the 1960s, he raised as a modern playwright in Kannada. Moreover, in the year 1998, he was bestowed with Jnanpith Award which is the highest literary honour conferred in India. He ruled the theatre for almost four decades and has been an inspiration for many.

Girish Karnad is one of the few film personalities who has won 10 National Film Awards in various categories. His plays which were in Kannada were adapted in several languages by legendary theatre personalities namely Ebrahim Alkazi, B V Karanth, Alyque Padamsee, Prasanna, Arvind Gaur, Satyadev Dubey, Vijaya Mehta, Shyamanand Jalan, Amal Allana and Zafer Mohiuddin. ANI tweeted about Karnad's demise by writing, "Girish Karnad, veteran actor and playwright, and Jnanpith awardee passed away this morning. More details awaited"

Karnad was awarded Padma Shri in the year 1974 and Padma Bhushan in 1992. 

Lately, he made several appearances in films like Tiger Zinda Hai, Chalk n Duster, Shivaay, 24, Dheera Rana Vikrama to name a few. He has been a part of films in Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi languages. 

Moreover, Girish Karnad played the role of Swami's Father in popular TV show Malgudi Days. He was also seen in Indradhanush as Appu and Bala's Father.