Author Introduction
Girish Raghunath Karnad (born 19 May 1938) is an Indian actor, film director, writer playwright and a Rhodes Scholar, who predominantly works in South Indian cinema and Bollywood. his rise as a playwright in 1960s, marked the coming of age of modern Indian playwriting in Kannada, just as Badal Sarkar did in Bengali, Vijay Tendulkar in Marathi, and Mohan Rakesh in Hindi.He is a recipient of the 1998 Jnanpith Award, the highest literary honour conferred in India.\n\nFor four decades Karnad has been composing plays, often using history and mythology to tackle contemporary issues. He has translated his plays into English and has received acclaim.His plays have been translated into some Indian languages and directed by directors like Ebrahim Alkazi, B. V. Karanth, Alyque Padamsee, Prasanna, Arvind Gaur, Satyadev Dubey, Vijaya Mehta, Shyamanand Jalan, Amal Allana and Zafer Mohiuddin. He is active in the world of Indian cinema working as an actor, director, and screenwriter, in Hindi and Kannada cinema, earning awards along the way. He was conferred Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan by the Government of India and won four Filmfare Awards, of which three are Filmfare Award for Best Director โ Kannada and the fourth a Filmfare Best Screenplay Award.Girish Karnad was born in Matheran, Maharashtra in a Saraswat Brahmin (SB) Konkani family, to Rao Saheb Dr Karnad and Krishna Bai Mankeekara. Krishna Bai was a widow and was serving as a homemaker for Rao Saheb and his bedridden wife for about five years. Rao Saheb and Krishna Bai married according to Arya Samaj tradition.His initial schooling was in Marathi. In Sirsi, Karnataka, he was exposed to travelling theatre groups, Natak Mandalis as his parents were deeply interested in their plays.As a youngster, Karnad was an ardent admirer of Yakshagana and the theater in his village.His family moved to Dharwad in Karnataka when he was 14 years old, where he grew up with his two sisters and niece.\n\nHe earned his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and statistics from Karnatak Arts College, Dharwad (Karnataka University), in 1958. Upon graduation Karnad went to England and studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Magdalen in Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar (1960โ63), earning his Master of Arts degree in philosophy, political science and economics.Karnad was elected President of the Oxford Union in 1963.After working with the Oxford University Press, Chennai for seven years (1963โ70), 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.\n\nDuring 1987โ88, he was at the University of Chicago as visiting professor and Fulbright playwright-in-residence.During his tenure at Chicago Nagamandala had its world premiere at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis based on Karnads English translation of the Kannada original. Most recently, he served as director of the Nehru Centre and as Minister of Culture, in the Indian High Commission, London (2000โ2003).\n\nHe served as director of the Film and Television Institute of India (1974โ1975) and chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the National Academy of the Performing Arts (1988โ93).For literature\nSangeet Natak Akademi award and Varthur navya Award โ 1972\nPadma Shri โ 1974[14]\nPadma Bhushan โ 1992[14]\nKannada Sahitya Parishat Award โ 1992\nSahitya Academy award โ 1994\nJnanpith Award โ 1998\nKalidas Samman โ 1998\nRajyotsava Award\nD. Litt., Karnatak University โ 1994[4]\nHonorary Doctorate, University of Southern California, Los Angeles โ 2011[15]\nFor cinema\nNational Film Awards\n1971: Best Direction: Vamsha Vriksha (with B. V. Karanth)\n1971: Best Feature Film in Kannada: Vamsha Vriksha\n1973: Second Best Feature Film: Kaadu\n1977: Best Feature Film in Kannada: Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane\n1978: Best Screenplay: Bhumika (with Shyam Benegal and Satyadev Dubey)\n1978: Best Feature Film in Kannada: Ondanondu Kaladalli\n1989: Best Non-Feature Film: Kanaka Purandara\n1990: Best Non-feature Film on Social Issues: The Lamp in the Niche\n1992: Best Film on Environment Conservation: Cheluvi\n1999: Best Feature Film in Kannada: Kaanuru Heggadathi\nFilmfare Awards South\n1972: Filmfare Award for Best Director - Kannada โ Vamsha Vriksha\n1974: Filmfare Award for Best Director - Kannada โ Kaadu\n1978: Filmfare Award for Best Director - Kannada โ Ondanondu Kaladalli\nFilmfare Awards\n1980: Filmfare Best Screenplay Award: Godhuli (with B. V. Karanth)\n1980: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award: Aasha: Nominated\n1982: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award: Teri Kasam : Nominated\nKarnataka State Film Awards\n1971-72 First Best Film โ Vamsha Vriksha\n1971-72 Best Dialogue Writer โ Vamsha Vriksha\n1973-74 Second Best Film โ Kaadu\n1989-90 Best Supporting Actor โ Santha Shishunala Sharifa\n1995-96 Best Supporting Actor โ Sangeetha Sagara Ganayogi Panchakshara Gavai\n1999-00 Second Best Film โ Kanooru Heggadithi\nOthers\nGubbi Veeranna Award\nKarnad served as the director of the Film and Television Institute of India from 1974โ1975, the Indian co-chairman for the Joint Media Committee of the Indo-US Sub-Commission on Education and Culture from 1984โ1993, chairman of the Sangeet Natak Academy from 1988โ1993, and president of Karnataka Nataka Academy from 1976โ1978.\nHonorary Doctorate from University of Southern California, Los Angeles โ 2011
