The gritty woman of children theatre, director of Kannada films, excellent orator and translator of many books of National Book Trust, top costume designer Prema Karanth (71) died on Monday morning after a prolonged illness due to kidney failure. She was wife of national fame theatre personality B.V.Karanth.
The body of Prema Karanth was brought to Ravindra Kalakshetra on Monday afternoon for paying tributes and later her body was cremated during the evening at Wilson Garden crematorium.
Prema Karanth's 'Phaniyamma' Kannada film in 1982 earned her rich laurels as a director. This film on the widow remarriage got the national recognition.
Before jumping in to theatre activities with a degree from Banaras University and diploma from National School of Drama, New Delhi Prema Karanth was a teacher for 12 years at Aravindo Mothers Inter-National School. Later she worked as translator from Hindi to Kannada and English to Kannada for National Book Trust. She has directed top ten children dramas and worked as costume designer for over 120 plays.
The government of Karnataka has paid the entire hospital bills of Prema Karanth recently. The government has also decided name Kalamandira of Mysore as B.V.Karanth Kalamandira. This was the wish of Prema Karanth disclosed the Kannada and culture secretary I.M.Vittala Murthy. The theatre properties belonging to B.V.Karanth and Prema Karanth will be accommodated in 'Rangayana' the famous theatre team in Mysore and government has plans to shift entire 'Rangayana' to B.V.Karanth Kalamandira in Mysore.