New Delhi: Veteran actor and playwright Girish Karnad passed away at the age of 81 on Monday morning. As per reports, the film director, Kannada writer, and a Rhodes Scholar, who predominantly worked in South Indian cinema and Bollywood, was battling a prolonged illness.

As per reports, he died at a hospital in Bengaluru at 6.30 am.

Girish Raghunath Karnad was born in Matheran, in present-day Maharashtra, in 1938. Karnad is known as a playwright. His plays, written in Kannada, have been translated into English and some Indian languages. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1974 and the Padma Bhushan in 1992. Considered a famed litterateur, he was also awarded the Jnanpith award in 1998.

Karnad made his acting as well as screenwriting debut in a Kannada movie, Samskara . In television, he played the role of Swami's father in the TV series Malgudi Days (1986–1987), based on R. K. Narayan's books. He also hosted the science magazine Turning Point on Doordarshan, in the early 1990s.

He made his directorial debut with Vamsha Vriksha.







Some of his famous Kannada movies include Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane, Ondanondu Kaladalli, Cheluvi and Kaadu and most recent film Kanooru Heggaditi.

His death is being mourned by his fans, including author Amitav Ghosh, who said “Saddened to hear of the passing of Girish Karnad - a great writer and a very important public voice. Thoughts are with @rkarnad and his family”.