Veteran playwright, actor Girish Karnad dies at 81
Veteran actor and theatre personality Girish Karnad breathed his last on Monday (June 10) morning at a hospital in Bengaluru. The 81-year-old actor was being treated for prolonged illness and had multiple organ failure.
Born on May 19, 1938, Karnad, a Rhodes scholar, studied in the University of Oxford where he wrote his first play, ‘Yayati’ in 1961. He went on to write other critically acclaimed plays like ‘Tughlaq’ (1964) and ‘Hayavadana’ (1972). He made his acting debut in the film ‘Samskara’ (1970)
A Jnanpith Awardee, Karnad was also recipient of Padma in 1974 and the Padma Bhusan in 1992.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to offer his condolences to the former actor.
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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 10, 2019
Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy in a tweet said the contribution of Karnad to literature, theatre and films will always be remembered.
Deeply saddened to hear of the demise of Jnanpith laureate writer and iconic actor/film maker, Sri #GirishKarnad .
His outstanding contribution to literature, theatre and films will always be remembered.
In his death, we lost a cultural ambassador. May his soul rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/s5bfbh0VgE
— H D Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) June 10, 2019
Writers, journalists and people from the theatre fraternity took to Twitter to express their condolences on the demise of the noted playwright and actor.
“Playwright, actor, institution-builder and patriot, Girish Karnad was a colossus. It was privilege to have known him, a far greater privilege to have seen his plays and read his work…” tweeted historian Ramachandra Guha.
