Girish Karnad (19 May 1938 – 10 June 2019)
was an Indian actor, film director, Kannada writer, playwright and a
Jnanpith awardee, who predominantly worked in South Indian cinema and Bollywood. His rise as a playwright in the 1960s marked the coming of age of modern Indian playwriting in Kannada, just as
Badal Sarkar
Sudhindra Sircar (Born 15 July 1925), also known as Badal Sarkar, was an influential Indian dramatist and theatre director, most known for his anti-establishment plays during the Naxalite movement in the 1970s and taking theatre out of the pros ...
did in Bengali,
Vijay Tendulkar
Vijay Dhondopant Tendulkar (6 January 1928 – 19 May 2008) was a leading Indian playwright, movie and television writer, literary essayist, political journalist, and social commentator primarily in Marāthi. His Marathi plays established him as ...
in Marathi, and
Mohan Rakesh
Mohan may refer to:
People
* Mohan Shumsher JBR, Former prime minister of Nepal
* Mohan (actor) (born 1956), Indian film actor
* Mohan (director), Indian director of Malayalam films
* Mohan (name), a name generally found among Hindus
* Mohan ...
in Hindi. He was a recipient of the 1998
Jnanpith Award
The Jnanpith Award is the oldest and the highest Indian literary award presented annually by the Bharatiya Jnanpith to an author for their "outstanding contribution towards literature". Instituted in 1961, the award is bestowed only on Indian w ...
, the highest literary honour conferred in India.
For four decades Karnad composed plays, often using history and mythology to tackle contemporary issues. He translated his plays into English and received acclaim. His plays have been translated into some Indian languages and directed by directors like
Ebrahim Alkazi
Ebrahim Alkazi (18 October 1925 – 4 August 2020) was an Indian theatre director and drama teacher. A rigid disciplinarian, he instilled in his acting students an awe and reverence that they still carry with them, with several of them havin ...
,
B. V. Karanth
Babukodi Venkataramana Karanth (Kannada: ಬಾಬುಕೋಡಿ ವೆಂಕಟರಮಣ ಕಾರಂತ) (19 September 1929 – 1 September 2002) widely known as B. V. Karanth was an Indian film director, playwright, actor, screenwriter, co ...
,
Alyque Padamsee
Alyque Padamsee (5 March 1928 – 17 November 2018) was an Indian theatre personality and ad film maker. He played Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the 1982 British period film ''Gandhi''.
Besides being involved in Indian theatre as an actor and produce ...
,
Prasanna,
Arvind Gaur
Arvind Gaur is an Indian theatre director known for innovative, socially and politically relevant plays in India. Gaur's plays are contemporary and thought-provoking, connecting intimate personal spheres of existence to larger social politica ...
,
Satyadev Dubey
Satyadev Dubey (13 July 1936 – 25 December 2011) was an Indian theatre director, actor, playwright, screenwriter & film director. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1971.
He won the 1978 National Film Award for Best Scre ...
,
Vijaya Mehta
Vijaya Mehta (born 4 November 1934), is a noted Indian Marathi film and theatre director and also an actor in many films from the Parallel Cinema. She is a founder member of Mumbai-based theatre group, Rangayan with playwright Vijay Tendulka ...
,
Shyamanand Jalan
Shyamanand Jalan (13 January 1934 – 24 May 2010) was a Kolkata-based Indian theatre director, and actor. He is credited for the renaissance period of modern Indian theatre and especially the Hindi theatre in Kolkata from the 1960s to 1980s. H ...
, Amal Allanaa and Zafer Mohiuddin.
He was active in the world of Indian cinema working as an actor, director and screenwriter, in Hindi and Kannada cinema, and has earned awards.
He was conferred
Padma Shri
Padma Shri ( IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conf ...
and
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service ...
by the Government of India and won four
Filmfare Award
The Filmfare Awards are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Hindi-language film industry of India.Al The Filmfare ceremony is one of the most famous film events in India. The awards were first introduced by th ...
s, of which three are Filmfare Award for Best Director – Kannada and the fourth a Filmfare Best Screenplay Award. He was a presenter for a weekly science magazine programme called "Turning Point" that aired on
Doordarshan
Doordarshan (abbreviated as DD; Hindi: , ) is an Indian public service broadcaster founded by the Government of India, owned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and one of Prasar Bharati's two divisions. One of India's largest bro ...
in 1991.
Early life and education
Girish Karnad was born in
Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin
Chitrapur Saraswats are a small Konkani-speaking community of Hindu Brahmins in India. They are traditionally found along the Kanara coast and call themselves ''Bhanaps'' in the Konkani language.
This is a small community from India spread th ...
family of
Matheran
Matheran is an automobile-free hill station and a municipal council in the Karjat taluka of the Raigad district located in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Matheran is part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, and one of the smallest hill ...
, in present-day
Maharashtra
Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...
, in 1938. His mother Krishnabai (née Mankikar) was a young widow with a son who belonged to a poor family. Since it was necessary for her to earn a living, she began working as a nurse and cook (general housekeeper) for the bedridden wife of a certain Raghunath Karnad, a doctor in the
Bombay Medical Services. He was from the Konkani speaking Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin community.
Some five years later, and while the first wife was still alive, Krishnabai and Dr. Raghunath Karnad were married in a private ceremony. The marriage was controversial not because of bigamy (it was legal until 1956 for a Hindu man to have more than one wife) but because of the prevailing social prejudice against widow remarriage. Therefore, the wedding was held privately, and under the dispensation of the
Arya Samaj, a reform organization that condones widow remarriage. Girish was the third of the four children born thereafter.
Karnad's initial schooling was in Marathi. Later, after his father was transferred to
Sirsi in the
Kannada
Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
-speaking regions of
Bombay Presidency, Karnad was exposed to travelling theatre groups and ''natak mandalis'' (theatre troupes), which were experiencing a period of efflorescence during the iconic
Balgandharva
Narayan Shripad Rajhans, popularly known as Bal Gandharva, (26 June 1888 – 15 July 1967) was a famous Marathi language, Marathi singer and a stage actor. He was known for his roles in female characters in Marathi plays, since women were not ...
era . As a youngster, he was an ardent admirer of
Yakshagana
Yakshagaana is a traditional theatre, developed in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Shimoga and western parts of Chikmagalur districts, in the state of Karnataka and in Kasaragod district in Kerala that combines dance, music, dialogue, ...
and the theater in his village.
His family moved to
Dharwad
Dharwad (), also known as Dharwar, is a city located in the north western part of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of the Dharwad district of Karnataka and forms a contiguous urban area with the city of Hubballi. It was merge ...
in Karnataka when he was fourteen, where he grew up with his two sisters and a niece.
He earned his
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...
degree in mathematics and statistics from Karnataka Arts College,
Dharwad
Dharwad (), also known as Dharwar, is a city located in the north western part of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is the headquarters of the Dharwad district of Karnataka and forms a contiguous urban area with the city of Hubballi. It was merge ...
(
Karnataka University
Karnatak University is a public state university in Dharwad district of Karnataka state, India. The university is recognized by University Grants Commission and accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). As of 2014 ...
), in 1958. After graduation, he went to England and studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at
Magdalen in
Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
as a
Rhodes Scholar (1960–63), earning his
Master of Arts
A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
degree in philosophy,
political science
Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...
and economics.
[ Karnad was elected the President of the ]Oxford Union
The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford England, whose membership is drawn primarily from the University of Oxford. Founded in 1823, it is one of Britain's oldest ...
in 1962–63.
Career
After working with the Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press (OUP) is the university press of the University of Oxford. It is the largest university press in the world, and its printing history dates back to the 1480s. Having been officially granted the legal right to print books ...
, Chennai for seven years (1963–70), he resigned to take to writing full-time.[ While in Madras (now known as Chennai) he got involved with local amateur theatre group, ]The Madras Players
The Madras Players are the oldest English-language theatre group in Chennai, India. The Madras Players have staged over 240 theatre productions for more than 50 years.
History
The Madras Players has its origins from Kilpauk General/Mental Hospi ...
.
During 1987–88, he was at the University of Chicago
The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chicago is consistently ranked among the b ...
as visiting professor and Fulbright playwright-in-residence.[ During his tenure at Chicago ''Nagamandala'' had its world premiere at the Guthrie Theater in ]Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
based on Karnad's English translation of the Kannada original.[
He served as director of the ]Film and Television Institute of India
The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) is a film institute under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of India and aided by the Central Government of India. It is situated on the premises of the erstwhile ...
(1974–1975) and chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi
Sangeet Natak Akademi (The National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama in English) is the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India.
History
It was set up by the Indian education ministry on 31 May 1952 and be ...
, the national academy of the performing arts (1988–93). He served as director of the Nehru Centre and as Minister of Culture, in the Indian High Commission, London (2000–2003).
Literature
Karnad is known as a playwright. His plays, written in Kannada
Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
, have been translated into English (mostly translated by himself) and some Indian languages. Kannada is his language of choice.
When Karnad started writing plays, Kannada literature
Kannada literature is the Text corpus, corpus of written forms of the Kannada language, a member of the Dravidian language, Dravidian Language family, family spoken mainly in the Indian state of Karnataka and written in the Kannada script.
A ...
was highly influenced by the renaissance in Western literature
Western literature, also known as European literature, is the literature written in the context of Western culture in the languages of Europe, as well as several geographically or historically related languages such as Basque and Hungarian, an ...
. Writers would choose a subject that looked entirely alien to manifestation of native soil. C. Rajagopalachari
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (10 December 1878 – 25 December 1972), popularly known as Rajaji or C.R., also known as Mootharignar Rajaji (Rajaji'', the Scholar Emeritus''), was an Indian statesman, writer, lawyer, and independence activis ...
's version of the ''Mahabharata
The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...
'' published in 1951, left a deep impact on him[ Sachindananda, p. 58] and soon, sometime in the mid-1950s, one day he experienced a rush of dialogues by characters from the Mahabharata in Kannada.
"I could actually hear the dialogues being spoken into my ears ... I was just the scribe," said Karnad in a later interview. ''Yayati'' was published in 1961, when he was 23 years old. It is based on the story of King Yayati
Yayāti ( sa, ययाति, translit=Yayāti), is a king in Hindu tradition. He is described to be a Chandravamsha king. He is regarded to be the progenitor of the races of the Yadavas and the Pandavas.
He is considered in some texts t ...
, one of the ancestors of the Pandavas
The Pandavas (Sanskrit: पाण्डव, IAST: Pāṇḍava) refers to the five legendary brothers— Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva—who are the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. They are acknowledg ...
, who was cursed into premature old age by his preceptor, Shukracharya
Shukra (Sanskrit: शुक्र, IAST: ) is a Sanskrit word that means "clear" or "bright". It also has other meanings, such as the name of an ancient lineage of sages who counselled Asuras in Vedic history. In medieval mythology and Hindu as ...
, who was incensed at Yayati's infidelity.
Yayati, in turn, asks his sons to sacrifice their youth for him, and one of them agrees. It ridicules the ironies of life through characters in ''Mahabharata''. The play in Hindi was adapted by Satyadev Dubey
Satyadev Dubey (13 July 1936 – 25 December 2011) was an Indian theatre director, actor, playwright, screenwriter & film director. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1971.
He won the 1978 National Film Award for Best Scre ...
and Amrish Puri
Amrish Puri (22 June 1932 – 12 January 2005) was an Indian actor, who was one of the most notable and important figures in Indian cinema and Theatre. He acted in more than 450 films, established himself as one of the most popular actor ...
was lead actor for the play. It became an instant success, immediately translated and staged in several other Indian languages.
Karnad found a new approach of drawing historical and mythological sources to tackle contemporary themes and existentialist
Existentialism ( ) is a form of philosophical inquiry that explores the problem of human existence and centers on human thinking, feeling, and acting. Existentialist thinkers frequently explore issues related to the meaning, purpose, and value ...
crisis of modern man through characters locked in psychological and philosophical conflicts. His next was ''Tughlaq
The Tughlaq dynasty ( fa, ), also referred to as Tughluq or Tughluk dynasty, was a Muslim dynasty of Indo- Turkic origin which ruled over the Delhi sultanate in medieval India. Its reign started in 1320 in Delhi when Ghazi Malik assumed the ...
'' (1964), about a rashly idealist 14th-century Sultan of Delhi
The following list of Indian monarchs is one of several lists of incumbents. It includes those said to have ruled a portion of the Indian subcontinent, including Sri Lanka.
The earliest Indian rulers are known from epigraphical sources fou ...
, Muhammad bin Tughluq
Muhammad bin Tughluq (1290 – 20 March 1351) was the eighteenth Sultan of Delhi. He reigned from February 1325 until his death in 1351. The sultan was the eldest son of Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq, founder of the Tughlaq dynasty. In 1321, the youn ...
, and allegory on the Nehru
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (; ; ; 14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964) was an Indian anti-colonial nationalist, secular humanist, social democrat—
*
*
*
* and author who was a central figure in India during the middle of the 20t ...
vian era which started with ambitious idealism and ended up in disillusionment.[ This established Karnad, now 26 years old, as a promising playwright in the ]country
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...
. It was staged by the National School of Drama
National School of Drama (NSD) is a theatre training institute situated at New Delhi, India. It is an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It was set up in 1959 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi and became an indepe ...
Repertory under the direction of Ebrahim Alkazi
Ebrahim Alkazi (18 October 1925 – 4 August 2020) was an Indian theatre director and drama teacher. A rigid disciplinarian, he instilled in his acting students an awe and reverence that they still carry with them, with several of them havin ...
, with the actor Manohar Singh
Manohar Singh (12 April 1938 – 14 November 2002) was an Indian theatre actor-director and character actor in Hindi films. He is best known for his performances in films such as ''Party'' (1984) and '' Daddy'' (1989). Starting his acting career ...
, playing the visionary king who later becomes disillusioned and turns bitter, amidst the historic Purana Qila
Purana Qila () is one of the oldest forts in Delhi, India. Built by the second Mughal Emperor Humayun and Surid Sultan Sher Shah Suri, it is thought by many to be located on the site of the ancient city of Indraprastha. The fort formed the in ...
in Delhi. It was staged in London by the National School of Drama for the Festival of India in 1982.[
''Hayavadana'' (1971) was based on a theme drawn from ''The Transposed Heads'', a 1940 novella by ]Thomas Mann
Paul Thomas Mann ( , ; ; 6 June 1875 – 12 August 1955) was a German novelist, short story writer, social critic, philanthropist, essayist, and the 1929 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. His highly symbolic and ironic epic novels and novella ...
, which is originally found in the 11th-century Sanskrit text ''Kathasaritsagara
The ''Kathāsaritsāgara'' ("Ocean of the Streams of Stories") (Devanagari: कथासरित्सागर) is a famous 11th-century collection of Indian legends, fairy tales and folk tales as retold in Sanskrit by the Shaivite Somadeva.
...
''. Herein he employed the folk theatre form of Yakshagana
Yakshagaana is a traditional theatre, developed in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Shimoga and western parts of Chikmagalur districts, in the state of Karnataka and in Kasaragod district in Kerala that combines dance, music, dialogue, ...
. A German version of the play was directed by Vijaya Mehta
Vijaya Mehta (born 4 November 1934), is a noted Indian Marathi film and theatre director and also an actor in many films from the Parallel Cinema. She is a founder member of Mumbai-based theatre group, Rangayan with playwright Vijay Tendulka ...
as part of the repertoire of the Deutsches National Theatre, Weimar.
''Naga-Mandala'' (Play with Cobra, 1988) was based on a folk tale related to him by A. K. Ramanujam, brought him the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award for the Most Creative Work of 1989. It was directed by J. Garland Wright, as part of the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis. The theatre subsequently commissioned him to write the play, ''Agni Mattu Male'' (The Fire and the Rain). Though before it came '' Taledanda'' (Death by Beheading, 1990) which used the backdrop, the rise of Veerashaivism, a radical protest and reform movement in 12th century Karnataka to bring out current issues.[
]
Movies
Karnad made his acting as well as screenwriting debut in a Kannada movie, '' Samskara'' (1970), based on a novel by U.R. Ananthamurthy
Udupi Rajagopalacharya Ananthamurthy (21 December 1932 – 22 August 2014) was an Indian contemporary writer and critic in the Kannada language. He was born in Thirtahalli Taluk and is considered one of the pioneers of the Navya movement. In 199 ...
and directed by Pattabhirama Reddy. That movie won the first President's Golden Lotus Award for Kannada cinema
Kannada cinema, also known as Sandalwood, or Chandanavana, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Kannada language widely spoken in the state of Karnataka. The 1934 film ''Sati Sulochana'' directed ...
.
In television, he played the role of Swami's father in the TV series '' Malgudi Days'' (1986–1987), based on R. K. Narayan
Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami (10 October 1906 – 13 May 2001) was an Indian writer known for his work set in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi. He was a leading author of early Indian literature in English along with Mul ...
's books, directed by Kannada
Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
actor and director Shankar Nag
Shankar Nagarakatte (9 November 1954 – 30 September 1990) was an Indian actor, screenwriter, director, and producer known for his work in Kannada-language films and television. A popular cultural icon of Karnataka, Nag is often referred to as ...
. He also hosted the science magazine Turning Point
A turning point, or climax, is the point of highest tension in a narrative work.
Turning Point or Turning Points may refer to:
Film
* ''The Turning Point'', a 1914 silent film starring Caroline Cooke
* ''The Turning Point'' (1920 film), an Ame ...
on Doordarshan, in the early 1990s.
He made his directorial debut with ''Vamsha Vriksha
Vamsha Vriksha (The genealogy tree), is a 1971 Indian Kannada-language film directed by B. V. Karanth and Girish Karnad, based on S. L. Bhyrappa's novel of the same name. The film won the National Film Award for Best Direction.Shampa Banerjee, ...
'' (1971), based on a Kannada
Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
novel by S. L. Bhyrappa. It won him National Film Award for Best Direction
The National Film Award for Best Direction is an honour presented annually at India's National Film Awards ceremony by the Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF), an organisation set up by the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Since ...
along with B. V. Karanth
Babukodi Venkataramana Karanth (Kannada: ಬಾಬುಕೋಡಿ ವೆಂಕಟರಮಣ ಕಾರಂತ) (19 September 1929 – 1 September 2002) widely known as B. V. Karanth was an Indian film director, playwright, actor, screenwriter, co ...
, who co-directed the film. Later, Karnad directed several movies in Kannada
Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
and Hindi
Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
, including ''Godhuli
''Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane'' or ''Godhuli'' is a 1977 Indian drama film co-directed by Girish Karnad and B. V. Karanth, starring Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah. It is based on the Kannada novel '' Tabali Neenade Magane'', ...
'' (1977) and ''Utsav
''Utsav'' (Hindi: उत्सव; English: Festival) is a 1984 Hindi erotic drama film, produced by Shashi Kapoor and directed by Girish Karnad. The film is based on play '' Mrichakatika'' ('' The Little Clay Cart'') by Śūdraka.
The film s ...
'' (1984). Karnad has made number of documentaries, like one on the Kannada poet D. R. Bendre (1972), ''Kanaka-Purandara'' (English, 1988) on two medieval Bhakti
''Bhakti'' ( sa, भक्ति) literally means "attachment, participation, fondness for, homage, faith, love, devotion, worship, purity".See Monier-Williams, ''Sanskrit Dictionary'', 1899. It was originally used in Hinduism, referring to d ...
poets of Karnataka, Kanaka Dasa
Kanaka Dasa (1509–1609) was a Haridasa saint and philosopher, popularly called Daasashreshta Kanakadasa (ದಾಸಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಕನಕದಾಸ). He was a renowned composer of Carnatic music, poet, reformer and musician. He is kn ...
and Purandara Dasa
Purandara Dasa ( IAST: Purandara dāsa) ( 1470 – 1565) was a Haridasa philosopher and a follower of Madhwacharya 's Dwaitha philosophy -saint from present-day Karnataka, India. He was a composer, singer and one of the chief founding-pr ...
, and ''The Lamp in the Niche'' (English, 1989) on Sufism and the Bhakti movement
The Bhakti movement was a significant religious movement in medieval Hinduism that sought to bring religious reforms to all strata of society by adopting the method of devotion to achieve salvation. Originating in Tamilakam during 6th centur ...
. Many of his films and documentaries have won several national and international awards.
Some of his famous Kannada movies include '' Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane'', ''Ondanondu Kaladalli
''Ondanondu Kaladalli'' () is a 1978 Indian Kannada-language epic film co-written and directed by Girish Karnad with soundtrack by Bhaskar Chandavarkar, starring Shankar Nag and Akshatha Rao in their debut. Through this movie, Kavita Krishnamur ...
'', '' Cheluvi'' and '' Kaadu'' and most recent film ''Kanooru Heggaditi'' (1999), based on a novel by Kannada writer Kuvempu.
His Hindi movies include ''Nishaant
''Nishant'' (English: Night's End) is a 1975 Hindi drama film directed by Shyam Benegal, based on an original screenplay by noted playwright Vijay Tendulkar, with dialogues by Satyadev Dubey.
The film features an ensemble of parallel cinema act ...
'' (1975), ''Manthan
''Manthan'', also released under the translated title ''The Churning'', is a 1976 Hindi film directed by Shyam Benegal, inspired by the pioneering milk cooperative movement of Verghese Kurien, and is written jointly by him and Vijay Tendulkar. ...
'' (1976), ''Swami
Swami ( ; sometimes abbreviated sw.) in Hinduism is an honorific title given to a male or female ascetic who has chosen the path of renunciation (''sanyāsa''), or has been initiated into a religious monastic order of Vaishnavas. It is used eith ...
'' (1977) and '' Pukar'' (2000). He has acted in a number of Nagesh Kukunoor
Nagesh Kukunoor (born 30 March 1967) is an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter and actor known for his works predominantly in Hindi cinema, and few Telugu language films. He is known for his works in parallel cinema, such as ''Hyderab ...
films, starting with ''Iqbal Iqbal, Eqbal, Ikbal, or Eghbal may refer to:
Geography Iran
* ''Eqbal, Iran'', a village in West Azerbaijan Province
*''Eqbaliyeh'', rural district in Iran
* ''Eqbal-e Gharbi Rural District'', western provincial district in Qazvin, Iran
* ''Eqbal- ...
'' (2005), where Karnad's role of the ruthless cricket coach got him critical acclaim. This was followed by '' Dor'' (2006), '' 8 x 10 Tasveer'' (2009) and ''Aashayein
''Aashayein'' () is a 2010 Indian Hindi-language drama film written and directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, and produced by Percept Picture Company and T-Series. It stars John Abraham and Sonal Sehgal. The film revolves around Rahul, a gambler whose l ...
'' (2010). He played a key role in movies "Ek Tha Tiger
''Ek Tha Tiger'' () is a 2012 Indian Hindi-language espionage action thriller film directed by Kabir Khan and co-written by Khan and Neelesh Misra, from a story by and produced by Aditya Chopra. It is the first installment in the ''Tiger'' fr ...
" (2012) and its sequel "Tiger Zinda Hai
''Tiger Zinda Hai'' () is a 2017 Indian Hindi-language espionage action thriller film written and directed by Ali Abbas Zafar from a story by Zafar and Neelesh Misra. The sequel to ''Ek Tha Tiger'' (2012), it is the second instalment in the ''T ...
" (2017) produced by Yash Raj Films.
Karnad has acted in the Kannada gangster movie ''Aa Dinagalu
''Aa Dinagalu'' () is a 2007 Indian Kannada-language crime drama film based on the non-fiction novel ''Daadaagiriya Dinagalu'' by Agni Shridhar, and directed by K. M. Chaitanya. It stars Chethan Kumar in the lead role. The supporting cast feat ...
''.
Other works
He provided the voice of A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India
The president of India ( IAST: ) is the head of state of the Republic of India. The president is the nominal head of the executive, the first citizen of the country, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces. Droupadi Murmu ...
, in the audiobook of Kalam's autobiography by Charkha Audiobooks, '' Wings of Fire''.
Awards and honours
For literature
* Rajyotsava Award
The Rajyotsava Prashasti or Rajyotsava Awards, the second highest civilian honor of the Karnataka state of India are conferred annually by the Karnataka Government on the occasion of the establishment of the state on 1 November celebrated as t ...
– 1970
* Sangeet Natak Akademi
Sangeet Natak Akademi (The National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama in English) is the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India.
History
It was set up by the Indian education ministry on 31 May 1952 and be ...
award and Varthur navya Award – 1972
* Padma Shri
Padma Shri ( IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conf ...
– 1974
* Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service ...
– 1992
* Kannada Sahitya Parishat
Kannada Saahithya Parishath ( kn, ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಪರಿಷತ್ತು, Kannaḍa Sāhitya Pariṣattu; ) is an Indian non-profit organisation that promotes the Kannada language and its literature. Its headquarters are ...
Award – 1992
* Sahitya Academy
The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India. Founded on 12 March 1954, it is supported by, though independent of, the Indian government. Its of ...
award – 1994
* Jnanapith Award – 1998
* Kalidas Samman
The Kalidas Samman ( hi, कालिदास सम्मान) is an arts award presented annually by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in India. The award is named after Kālidāsa, a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer of ancient India. The ...
– 1998
* Honorary doctorate by University of Southern California
The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in C ...
, Los Angeles – 2011
For cinema
National Film Awards
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorat ...
* 1971: Best Direction: ''Vamsha Vriksha
Vamsha Vriksha (The genealogy tree), is a 1971 Indian Kannada-language film directed by B. V. Karanth and Girish Karnad, based on S. L. Bhyrappa's novel of the same name. The film won the National Film Award for Best Direction.Shampa Banerjee, ...
'' (with B. V. Karanth
Babukodi Venkataramana Karanth (Kannada: ಬಾಬುಕೋಡಿ ವೆಂಕಟರಮಣ ಕಾರಂತ) (19 September 1929 – 1 September 2002) widely known as B. V. Karanth was an Indian film director, playwright, actor, screenwriter, co ...
)
* 1971: Best Feature Film in Kannada: ''Vamsha Vriksha
Vamsha Vriksha (The genealogy tree), is a 1971 Indian Kannada-language film directed by B. V. Karanth and Girish Karnad, based on S. L. Bhyrappa's novel of the same name. The film won the National Film Award for Best Direction.Shampa Banerjee, ...
''
* 1973: Second Best Feature Film: '' Kaadu''
* 1977: Best Feature Film in Kannada: '' Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane''
* 1978: Best Screenplay: ''Bhumika
Bhūmikā (Sanskrit: भूमिका) is derived from the word, ''Bhūmi'', meaning ''earth'', ''soil'', ''ground'' or ''character''.
Hinduism
The Upanishads speak about the seven ''bhūmikās'' or ''jñānabhūmis'' (fields of knowledge) or ...
'' (with Shyam Benegal and Satyadev Dubey
Satyadev Dubey (13 July 1936 – 25 December 2011) was an Indian theatre director, actor, playwright, screenwriter & film director. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1971.
He won the 1978 National Film Award for Best Scre ...
)
* 1978: Best Feature Film in Kannada: ''Ondanondu Kaladalli
''Ondanondu Kaladalli'' () is a 1978 Indian Kannada-language epic film co-written and directed by Girish Karnad with soundtrack by Bhaskar Chandavarkar, starring Shankar Nag and Akshatha Rao in their debut. Through this movie, Kavita Krishnamur ...
''
* 1989: Best Non-Feature Film: ''Kanaka Purandara''
* 1990: Best Non-feature Film on Social Issues: ''The Lamp in the Niche''
* 1992: Best Film on Environment Conservation: '' Cheluvi''
*1999: Best Feature Film in Kannada: ''Kaanuru Heggadathi
''Kanooru Heggadithi'' (''Kanooru Headwoman'') is a 1999 Indian film based on the 1936 novel " Kanooru Subbamma Heggadithi" by Kannada writer Kuvempu, and directed by playwright and film director Girish Karnad. Set in the Malnad region, the ...
''
Filmfare Awards South
Filmfare Awards South is the South Indian segment of the annual Filmfare Awards, presented by the Filmfare magazine of The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Indian film industry encompassing ...
* 1972: Filmfare Award for Best Director - Kannada
''Filmfare'' is an Indian English-language fortnightly magazine published by Worldwide Media. Acknowledged as one of Indian most popular entertainment magazines, it publishes pieces involving news, interviews, photos, videos, reviews, events, an ...
– ''Vamsha Vriksha
Vamsha Vriksha (The genealogy tree), is a 1971 Indian Kannada-language film directed by B. V. Karanth and Girish Karnad, based on S. L. Bhyrappa's novel of the same name. The film won the National Film Award for Best Direction.Shampa Banerjee, ...
''
* 1974: Filmfare Award for Best Director - Kannada
''Filmfare'' is an Indian English-language fortnightly magazine published by Worldwide Media. Acknowledged as one of Indian most popular entertainment magazines, it publishes pieces involving news, interviews, photos, videos, reviews, events, an ...
– '' Kaadu''
* 1978: Filmfare Award for Best Director - Kannada
''Filmfare'' is an Indian English-language fortnightly magazine published by Worldwide Media. Acknowledged as one of Indian most popular entertainment magazines, it publishes pieces involving news, interviews, photos, videos, reviews, events, an ...
– ''Ondanondu Kaladalli
''Ondanondu Kaladalli'' () is a 1978 Indian Kannada-language epic film co-written and directed by Girish Karnad with soundtrack by Bhaskar Chandavarkar, starring Shankar Nag and Akshatha Rao in their debut. Through this movie, Kavita Krishnamur ...
''
* 1983: Filmfare Award for Best Actor - Kannada
''Filmfare'' is an Indian English-language fortnightly magazine published by Worldwide Media. Acknowledged as one of Indian most popular entertainment magazines, it publishes pieces involving news, interviews, photos, videos, reviews, events, an ...
- ''Ananda Bhairavi
Anandabhairavi or Ananda Bhairavi (pronounced ānandabhairavi) is a very old melodious rāgam (musical scale) of Carnatic music (South Indian classical music). This rāgam also used in Indian traditional and regional musics. ''Ānandam'' (San ...
''
Filmfare Awards Hindi
* 1980: Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay
The Filmfare Best Screenplay Award is given by the ''Filmfare'' magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films.
Superlatives
;Most Awards
*Salim–Javed – 3
* Basu Chatterjee – 3
* Rajkumar Hirani – 3
*Mani Ratnam – 2
...
: ''Godhuli
''Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane'' or ''Godhuli'' is a 1977 Indian drama film co-directed by Girish Karnad and B. V. Karanth, starring Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah. It is based on the Kannada novel '' Tabali Neenade Magane'', ...
'' (with B. V. Karanth
Babukodi Venkataramana Karanth (Kannada: ಬಾಬುಕೋಡಿ ವೆಂಕಟರಮಣ ಕಾರಂತ) (19 September 1929 – 1 September 2002) widely known as B. V. Karanth was an Indian film director, playwright, actor, screenwriter, co ...
)
* 1980: Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor
The Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor is given by ''Filmfare'' as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a male actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a supporting role. Although the awards star ...
: '' Aasha''
* 1982: Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor: ''Teri Kasam
Teri Kasam: (तेरी कसम) is a 1982 Indian Bollywood movie directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar and starring Kumar Gaurav, Poonam Dhillon, Girish Karnad, Ranjeeta and Nirupa Roy. It is a remake of the Tamil film ''Puguntha Veedu'' (1972).
...
''
Karnataka State Film Awards
* 1971-72: First Best Film – ''Vamsha Vriksha
Vamsha Vriksha (The genealogy tree), is a 1971 Indian Kannada-language film directed by B. V. Karanth and Girish Karnad, based on S. L. Bhyrappa's novel of the same name. The film won the National Film Award for Best Direction.Shampa Banerjee, ...
''
* 1971-72: Best Dialogue Writer – ''Vamsha Vriksha
Vamsha Vriksha (The genealogy tree), is a 1971 Indian Kannada-language film directed by B. V. Karanth and Girish Karnad, based on S. L. Bhyrappa's novel of the same name. The film won the National Film Award for Best Direction.Shampa Banerjee, ...
''
* 1973-74: Second Best Film – '' Kaadu''
* 1989-90: Best Supporting Actor – ''Santha Shishunala Sharifa
''Santha Shishunala Sharifa'' ( kn, ಸಂತ ಶಿಶುನಾಳ ಶರೀಫ) is a 1990 Indian Kannada biographical drama film directed and co-written by T. S. Nagabharana and produced by Srihari Khoday and Mahima Patel for Yajaman Enterpris ...
''
* 1995-96: Best Supporting Actor – ''Sangeetha Sagara Ganayogi Panchakshara Gavai
''Sangeetha Sagara Ganayogi Panchakshara Gavai'' is a 1995 Indian Kannada-language biographical film, directed by Chindodi Bangaresh and produced by Chindodi Leela. Starring Lokesh in the titular role, the film also featured Girish Karnad and V ...
''
* 1999-00: Second Best Film – ''Kanooru Heggadithi
''Kanooru Heggadithi'' (''Kanooru Headwoman'') is a 1999 Indian film based on the 1936 novel " Kanooru Subbamma Heggadithi" by Kannada writer Kuvempu, and directed by playwright and film director Girish Karnad. Set in the Malnad region, the fi ...
''
Others
* Gubbi Veeranna
Gubbi Hampanna Veeranna (1891 – 1972) was an Indian theatre director. He was one of the pioneers and most prolific contributors to Kannada theatre. He established the drama company, ''Gubbi Sree Channabasaveshwara Nataka Company'', which play ...
Award for his services to theatre (as a playwright)
* Karnad served as the director of the Film and Television Institute of India
The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) is a film institute under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of India and aided by the Central Government of India. It is situated on the premises of the erstwhile ...
from 1974 to 1975, the Indian co-chairman for the Joint Media Committee of the Indo-US Sub-Commission on Education and Culture from 1984 to 1993, chairman of the Sangeet Natak Academy
Sangeet Natak Akademi (The National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama in English) is the national level academy for performing arts set up by the Government of India.
History
It was set up by the Indian education ministry on 31 May 1952 and be ...
from 1988 to 1993, and president of Karnataka Nataka Academy from 1976 to 1978.
*Honorary Doctorate from University of Southern California, Los Angeles – 2011
*1996 -Dr.T.M.A.Pai Konkani Distinguished Achievement Award for Performing Arts
Controversies
At the Tata Literary Festival held in Mumbai
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...
in 2012, Karnad was invited to speak about "his life in theater" in an hour-long session. Instead of talking about the subject, he took the opportunity to lash out at V. S. Naipaul
Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul (; 17 August 1932 – 11 August 2018) was a Trinidadian-born British writer of works of fiction and nonfiction in English. He is known for his comic early novels set in Trinidad, his bleaker novels of alienati ...
for his "antipathy towards Indian Muslims". V. S. Naipaul had earlier been conferred the Lifetime achievement award by the festival's organisers. Karnad also criticized the organizers for having honored Naipaul.
The audience, which had gathered to hear Karnad speak, had mixed reactions to the speech. Some, like organizer Anil Dharker
Anil Dharker (1947 – 26 March 2021) was an Indian journalist and writer. He was the founder and director of the Mumbai International Literary Festival which is held in November every year. He was also the founder and director of Literature Live ...
, tried ineffectually to steer the speech toward less controversial waters. Others were amused by the episode, and some commented on the research and logic that had gone into the speech (unfortunately overshadowed by its 'scandalous' nature).[Girish Karnad slams V S Naipaul for his anti-Islam views, questions his Mumbai fest award]
, ''Indian Express
''The Indian Express'' is an English-language Indian daily newspaper founded in 1932. It is published in Mumbai by the Indian Express Group. In 1999, eight years after the group's founder Ramnath Goenka's death in 1991, the group was split betw ...
'', 3 November 2012.
Just a few weeks after this, Karnad again created controversy by claiming that Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore (; bn, রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর; 7 May 1861 – 7 August 1941) was a Bengali polymath who worked as a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer and painter. He resh ...
, who wrote India's national anthem, was a great poet but a second-rate playwright.
''Deccan Chronicle
''Deccan Chronicle'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded by Rajagopal Mudaliar in the 1930s & currently owned by Samagrah Commercial Pvt Limited. It is published in Hyderabad, Telangana, by Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited ( ...
''.
In November 2015, during celebrations marking the anniversary of 18th-century Muslim ruler Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan (born Sultan Fateh Ali Sahab Tipu, 1 December 1751 – 4 May 1799), also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore based in South India. He was a pioneer of rocket artillery.Dalrymple, p. 243 He i ...
's birth, Karnad stated that Bangalore International Airport
Kempegowda International Airport is an international airport serving Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka, India. Spread over , it is located about north of the city near the suburb of Devanahalli. It is owned and operated by Bengaluru Inter ...
should have been named after Tipu Sultan instead of Kempe Gowda
Kempe Gowda I, locally venerated as Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda, or commonly known as Kempe Gowda, was a chieftain under the Vijayanagara Empire in early-modern India. He is famous for founding the present-day southern Indian city of Bangalore.
E ...
. This created a furore among many people. Karnad apologised the following day.
Personal life
While working in Madras for Oxford University Press on his return from England, he met his future wife Saraswathi Ganapathy at a party. They decided to marry but the marriage was only formalised ten years later, when Karnad was 42 years old. Saraswathi was born to a Parsi
Parsis () or Parsees are an ethnoreligious group of the Indian subcontinent adhering to Zoroastrianism. They are descended from Persians who migrated to Medieval India during and after the Arab conquest of Iran (part of the early Muslim conq ...
mother, Nurgesh Mugaseth, and a Kodava Hindu father, Kodandera Ganapathy. The couple had two children. They lived in Bangalore
Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...
.[ '']Frontline
Front line refers to the forward-most forces on a battlefield.
Front line, front lines or variants may also refer to:
Books and publications
* ''Front Lines'' (novel), young adult historical novel by American author Michael Grant
* ''Frontlines ...
'', Vol. 16, No. 3, 30 Jan.–12 Feb 1999.
Activism
He was a proponent of multiculturalism and freedom of expression. He was a critic of religious fundamentalism
Fundamentalism is a tendency among certain groups and individuals that is characterized by the application of a strict literal interpretation to scriptures, dogmas, or ideologies, along with a strong belief in the importance of distinguishi ...
. He had publicly condemned the demolition of Babri Masjid
The demolition of the Babri Masjid was illegally carried out on 6 December 1992 by a large group of activists of the Vishva Hindu Parishad and allied organisations. The 16th-century Babri Masjid in the city of Ayodhya, in Uttar Pradesh, had ...
in 1992 and later spoke against the attempts to create controversy about the Idgah Maidan in Hubli
Hubli, officially known as Hubballi, is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. The twin cities Hubli–Dharwad form the second largest city in the state by area and population and the largest city in North Karnataka. Hubli is in Dharwad distr ...
.[ He had opposed ]RSS
RSS ( RDF Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication) is a web feed that allows users and applications to access updates to websites in a standardized, computer-readable format. Subscribing to RSS feeds can allow a user to keep track of many di ...
, BJP
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP; ; ) is a political party in India, and one of the two major Indian political parties alongside the Indian National Congress. Since 2014, it has been the ruling political party in India under Narendra Mo ...
and other organizations on several occasions. He opposed Narendra Modi
Narendra Damodardas Modi (; born 17 September 1950) is an Indian politician serving as the 14th and current Prime Minister of India since 2014. Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 and is the Member of Parliament from ...
for the Prime Minister's post in the 2014 parliament elections. He was one of the 200 writers who put out an open letter against hate politics and for “diverse and equal India” during the 2019 general elections. With a tube in his nose, he wore a placard saying "Me Too Urban Naxal" at the first death anniversary of slain journalist Gauri Lankesh
Gauri Lankesh (29 January 1962 – 5 September 2017) was an Indian activist and former journalist from Bangalore, Karnataka. She worked as an editor in '' Lankesh Patrike'', a Kannada weekly started by her father P. Lankesh, and ran her own we ...
. Karnad claimed that Tipu Sultan
Tipu Sultan (born Sultan Fateh Ali Sahab Tipu, 1 December 1751 – 4 May 1799), also known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore based in South India. He was a pioneer of rocket artillery.Dalrymple, p. 243 He i ...
was the greatest king Karnataka had in 500 years, on a religious controversy about the king. Karnad was a supporter of the Forum for Communal Harmony.
Death
Karnad died on 10 June 2019 at Bengaluru at the age of 81 due to multiple organ failure following prolonged illness.
"After a discussion with his son, it was made clear to us that his last wish was to not have any floral procession, VVIPs or visits of any dignitaries. Hence, it will be a simple affair."
Bibliography
Plays in Kannada
* "''Maa Nishaadha''" (One Act Play)
* "''Yayati''" (1961)[ Kumar, p. 114]
* "''Tughlaq
The Tughlaq dynasty ( fa, ), also referred to as Tughluq or Tughluk dynasty, was a Muslim dynasty of Indo- Turkic origin which ruled over the Delhi sultanate in medieval India. Its reign started in 1320 in Delhi when Ghazi Malik assumed the ...
''" (1964) (translated in Hindustani by B. V. Karanth
Babukodi Venkataramana Karanth (Kannada: ಬಾಬುಕೋಡಿ ವೆಂಕಟರಮಣ ಕಾರಂತ) (19 September 1929 – 1 September 2002) widely known as B. V. Karanth was an Indian film director, playwright, actor, screenwriter, co ...
. Major Indian directors who have staged it: Ebrahim Alkazi
Ebrahim Alkazi (18 October 1925 – 4 August 2020) was an Indian theatre director and drama teacher. A rigid disciplinarian, he instilled in his acting students an awe and reverence that they still carry with them, with several of them havin ...
, Prasanna, Arvind Gaur
Arvind Gaur is an Indian theatre director known for innovative, socially and politically relevant plays in India. Gaur's plays are contemporary and thought-provoking, connecting intimate personal spheres of existence to larger social politica ...
, Dinesh Thakur
Dinesh Thakur (1947 – 20 September 2012) was an Indian theatre director, actor in theatre, television and Hindi film, where most notably he appeared as one of the leads in ''Rajnigandha'' 1974 and directed by Basu Chatterjee, which won both Fi ...
& Shyamanand Jalan
Shyamanand Jalan (13 January 1934 – 24 May 2010) was a Kolkata-based Indian theatre director, and actor. He is credited for the renaissance period of modern Indian theatre and especially the Hindi theatre in Kolkata from the 1960s to 1980s. H ...
(in Bengali
Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to:
*something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia
* Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region
* Bengali language, the language they speak
** Bengali alphabet, the w ...
).
* "''Hayavadana
''Hayavadana'' (''meaning: Horse face'') is a 1971 Indian Kannada language two- act play written by Girish Karnad. The plot is based on Kathasaritsagara and Thomas Mann's retelling of Transposed Heads. Its twin play is ''Nagamandala'' (1988). H ...
''" (1971)
* "''Anjumallige''" (1977) (translated in Bengali name "JAMINI", by Dr. Biswa Roy, Director Film and T.V media. Published by Papyrus, in the year January 2007. )
* "''Hittina Hunja''" aka "''Bali''" (The Sacrifice) (1980)
* "''Nagamandala''" (1988) (Play with Cobra), based on the script of this play, Nagamandala
Nagamandala (; ) is a 1997 Indian Kannada-language drama film, directed by T. S. Nagabharana based on a play of same name by Girish Karnad. It was produced by Srihari L. Khoday and the music was scored by C. Aswath. It is an adaptation of a 19 ...
, A movie in Kannada language was released in 1997, starring Prakash Raj and Vijayalakshmi
Vijaya lakshmi is a Hindu Indian feminine given name or surname, which means "goddess of victory". The name may refer to:
People First name
* Vijayalakshmi Atluri, Indian computer scientist
*Vijayalakshmi (Kannada actress), Indian actress
*Vijaya ...
.
* "'' Taledanda''" (1990) (Death by Beheading), in Hindi it is known as ''Rakt-Kalyan'' translated by Ram Gopal Bajaj
Ram Gopal Bajaj is an Indian theatre director, academician, and a Hindi film actor. He has also been a faculty member and a former Director of National School of Drama, New Delhi (1995 – September 2001).
He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2003 a ...
, first directed by Ebrahim Alkazi
Ebrahim Alkazi (18 October 1925 – 4 August 2020) was an Indian theatre director and drama teacher. A rigid disciplinarian, he instilled in his acting students an awe and reverence that they still carry with them, with several of them havin ...
for NSD rep., then by Arvind Gaur
Arvind Gaur is an Indian theatre director known for innovative, socially and politically relevant plays in India. Gaur's plays are contemporary and thought-provoking, connecting intimate personal spheres of existence to larger social politica ...
(1995–2008, still running) for Asmita Theater Group, New Delhi.
* "''Agni mattu Male''" (1995) (''Agni Aur Varsha'', The Fire and the Rain), first directed by Prasanna for NSD Rep.
* "''Tipu Sultan Kanda Kanasu''" ( The Dreams of Tipu Sultan)
* "''Odakalu Bimba
''Odakalu Bimba'' is a Kannada monodrama by Indian playwright and author Girish Karnad. It was written in 2005 and marked Karnad's return to direction after a period of thirty years. He directed the play with KM Chaitanya
It was translated and ...
''" (2006) (Hindi, ''Bikre Bimb''; English, ''A heap of Broken Images'')
* "''Maduve Album''" (2006)
* "''Flowers''" (2012)
* "''Benda Kaalu on Toast''" (2012)
* "''Rakshasa Tangadi''" (2018)
Plays translated in English
*''Tughlaq
The Tughlaq dynasty ( fa, ), also referred to as Tughluq or Tughluk dynasty, was a Muslim dynasty of Indo- Turkic origin which ruled over the Delhi sultanate in medieval India. Its reign started in 1320 in Delhi when Ghazi Malik assumed the ...
'', Oxford University Press.
*''Hayavadana
''Hayavadana'' (''meaning: Horse face'') is a 1971 Indian Kannada language two- act play written by Girish Karnad. The plot is based on Kathasaritsagara and Thomas Mann's retelling of Transposed Heads. Its twin play is ''Nagamandala'' (1988). H ...
'', Oxford University Press.
*''Yayati'', Oxford University Press.
*''Nagamandala: Play with Cobra'', Oxford University Press.
*''Fire and the Rain'', Oxford University Press, 1998.
*''Bali : The Sacrifice'', Oxford University Press.
*''Tale Danda'', Oxford University Press.
*''Wedding Album'', Oxford University Press, 2006.
*''Boiled Beans on Toast'', Oxford University Press, 2014.
*''Crossing to Talikota'', Oxford University Press, 2019.
*''Collected Plays'', Vol.1, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 2005 (Tughlaq, Hayavadana, Bali: The Sacrifice, and Naga Mandala)
*''Collected Plays'', Vol.2, Oxford University Press, 2005 (Tale-Danda, The Fire and the Rain, The Dreams of Tipu Sultan, Two Monologues: Flowers and Broken Images)
Filmography
Movies
TV series
* Malgudi Days (1987)
** as Swamy's father in ''Swamy and Friends'' (Episodes 1 to 8)
** as the Watchman in ''The Watchman'' (episode 17)
* Indradhanush (1989) as Appu and Bala's father
* Khandaan (TV series) Khandan may refer to:
* Khandan Rural District, rural district in Iran
* Khandaan (1942 film) (pre-Partition Punjabi Urdu film)
* Khandan (1965 film)
''Khandan'' () is a 1965 Hindi film directed by A. Bhimsingh. The film stars Sunil Dutt, Nut ...
* Apna Apna Aasman
* Swarajnama as the main host and director, aired on DD1 and Doordarshan
Doordarshan (abbreviated as DD; Hindi: , ) is an Indian public service broadcaster founded by the Government of India, owned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and one of Prasar Bharati's two divisions. One of India's largest bro ...
Movies directed
Production
* ''Om Namo'' (A mini series for Dooradarshan, directed by K M Chaitanya)
* ''Kusuma Bale'' (A mini series for Dooradarshan, directed by K M Chaitanya)
Other works
* ''Evam Indrajit'' (English) by Badal Sircar
Sudhindra Sircar (Born 15 July 1925), also known as Badal Sarkar, was an influential Indian dramatist and theatre director, most known for his anti-establishment plays during the Naxalite movement in the 1970s and taking theatre out of the pro ...
. Translated by Girish Karnad. 1974.
Works in translation
* ''Yayati''. Oxford University Press.
* ''Yayati (Hindi)''. Tr. by B. R. Narayan. Rajkamal Prakashan Pvt Ltd, 2008. .
* ''Tughlaq: A play in 13 scenes'', Oxford Univ. Press, 1972
* ''Tughlaq'' (Assamese). Translation Utpal Datta. Assam Publication Board. 2005
* ''Nagamandala'' (Assamese) Translation. Utpal Datta. Assam Publication Board. 2005
* ''Hayavadana'', Oxford University Press, 1975.
* ''Tughlaq (Marathi)'', Tras. Vijay Tendulkar
Vijay Dhondopant Tendulkar (6 January 1928 – 19 May 2008) was a leading Indian playwright, movie and television writer, literary essayist, political journalist, and social commentator primarily in Marāthi. His Marathi plays established him as ...
. Popular Prakashan Pvt. Ltd. .
* ''Three Plays: Naga-Mandala; Hayavadana; Tughlaq''. Oxford University Press, 1996. .
* ''Tughlaq (Hindi). Tr. by B. V. Karanth
Babukodi Venkataramana Karanth (Kannada: ಬಾಬುಕೋಡಿ ವೆಂಕಟರಮಣ ಕಾರಂತ) (19 September 1929 – 1 September 2002) widely known as B. V. Karanth was an Indian film director, playwright, actor, screenwriter, co ...
. Rajkamal Prakashan Pvt Ltd, 2005. .
* ''Collected plays Vol 1: Tuglaq, Hayavadana, Bali: The Sacrifice, Naga-Mandala''. Oxford University Press. 2005. .
*''Collected Plays: Taledanda, the Fire and the Rain, the Dreams of Tipu Sultan, Flowers and Images: Two Dramatic Monologues: Flowers : Broken Images, Vol. 2''. Oxford University Press, USA. 2005. .
* ''Three plays by Girish Karnad''. Oxford University Press. .
* ''Cheluvi'' (Assamese). Translation Utpal Datta.
Autobiography
* ''‛Aadaadtha Aayushya’'', published by Manohara Grantha Mala, 2011.
Notes
References
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*
*
*
Further reading
* Jaydipsinh Dodiya, ed.,''The Plays of Girish Karnad: Critical Perspectives'' Prestige Books, New Delhi, 1999.
* Pradeep Trikha, ''Multiple Celebrations, Celebrating Multiplicity in Girish Karnad – A Monograph''
* Chhote Lal Khatri, ''Girish Karnad: Naga-mandala : a critique''. Prakash Book Depot, 2006. .
* Dr. Prafull D. Kulkarni, ''The Dramatic World of Girish Karnad''. Creative Books Nanded, 2010. .
* P Dhanavel, ''The Indian Imagination of Girish Karnad'', Prestige Books, New Delhi, 2000.
* G Baskaran, ed., ''Girish Karnad and Mahesh Dattani: Methods and Motives'', Yking Books, Jaipur, 2012.
* Vanashree Tripathi, ''Three Plays of Girish Karnad: Hayavadana, Tale-Danda, The Fire and the Rain'', Prestige Books, New Delhi, 2004.
*
* Julia Leslie, "Nailed to the Past: Girish Karnad's Plays" ''Journal of South Asian Literature'', 1999, 31–2 (for 1996–7), pp. 50–84
JSTOR
* Julia Leslie, "Understanding Basava: History, Hagiography and a Modern Kannada Drama" ''Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies'', 1998, 61, pp. 228–61
DOI
* Zinia Mitra " A Tale of Subversion with a Conundrum of Mask: A Reading into Girish Karnard's ''Naga Mandala''" in ''Indian Drama in English'' ed.K.Chakraborty, Delhi, PHI,2011,, INR:295.00 395 pp.
* Jolly Das. 'Tracing Karnad's Theatrical Trajectory: An Integrated Approach to His Life and Creativity'. New Delhi: Paragon, 2015.
External links
*
Profile of Girish Karnad on Virtual Bangalore
{{DEFAULTSORT:Karnad, Girish
Indian male film actors
20th-century Indian film directors
Indian socialists
Kannada-language writers
1938 births
2019 deaths
Konkani people
Alumni of Lincoln College, Oxford
Kannada dramatists and playwrights
20th-century Indian translators
Translators to English
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People from Raigad district
Male actors in Hindi cinema
Male actors in Marathi cinema
Male actors in Kannada cinema
Hindi-language film directors
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Indian Rhodes Scholars
Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts
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Male actors in Tamil cinema
Filmfare Awards South winners
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Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship
20th-century Indian male actors
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Indian male dramatists and playwrights
20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights
Screenwriters from Maharashtra
20th-century Indian male writers
Best Original Screenplay National Film Award winners
Directors who won the Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation National Film Award
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