Known for movies

Short Info

SpouseSaraswathy Ganapathy
FactSon named Raghu Amay Karnad.


Girish Karnad is an Indian playwright, screenwriter, director, actor and Rhodes Scholar, who predominantly works in South Indian cinema and Bollywood. He has been conferred with the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan, India’s fourth and third highest civilian honours respectively. In addition, he has received several prestigious awards in his career, including the National Film Award, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Karnataka Ratna.

Born on May 19, 1938, in Matheran, Maharashtra, India, Girish Karnad was the eldest of three children born to Rao Saheb Karnad and Krishna Bai Mankekar. His father was a doctor who had served in the Indian Army Medical Corps during World War II. His mother was a homemaker. His younger sister, Saraswathi, is a retired professor of English from the University of Mumbai and his brother, Raghunath, is a retired professor of physics from the University of Pune.

Girish Karnad completed his primary and secondary education in Mumbai. He then attended Derozio College in Kolkata and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and political science from Karnataka University in Dharwad. He was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Lincoln College, Oxford, where he completed his Master of Arts degree in philosophy, politics and economics.

Girish Karnad began his career as a playwright in the 1960s. His plays have been staged in India and abroad and have been translated into several languages. He has also written screenplays for several films, including the critically acclaimed Kannada film, Vamsha Vriksha (1971). He made his directorial debut with the Kannada film, Samskara (1970), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada. He has also acted in a number of films and television series.

Girish Karnad has been married to Saraswathi Ganapathy since 1969. The couple has two children – a son, Raghu Karnad, who is a writer and journalist, and a daughter, Radha, who is an architect.

Girish Karnad has been conferred with the Padma Shri (1974) and the Padma Bhushan (1992) by the Government of India. He has also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1974), the Karnataka Ratna (1995) and the Jnanpith Award (1998), among others.

General Info

Full NameGirish Karnad
ProfessionActor, Playwright, Poet, Author, Film director, Screenwriter
EducationKarnatak College Dharwar, Karnatak University, University of Oxford, Lincoln College, Oxford
NationalityIndian

Family

SpouseSaraswathy Ganapathy
ChildrenRaghu Amay Karnad, Shalmali Radha Karnad
ParentsKrishna Bai Mankeekara, Rao Saheb Dr. Karnad

Accomplishments

AwardsJnanpith Award, Padma Bhushan, National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada, National Film Award for Best Direction, National Film Award for Best Screenplay, Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay, Filmfare Award for Best Director – Kannada, National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film, Natio...
NominationsFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor, Filmfare Award for Best Story
MoviesShivaay, Ek Tha Tiger, Swami, Manthan, Nishant, Iqbal, Ananda Bhairavi, Vamsha Vriksha, Kadhalan, Nagamandala, Sur Sangam, Aashayein, Sutradhar, Apne Paraye, Samskara, 8 x 10 Tasveer, Dor, Hey Ram, Aasha, Utsav, Ondanondu Kaladalli, Samrat & Co., Minsara Kanavu, Kanooru Heggadithi, Godhuli, Rana Vik...

Social profile links

Facts

#Fact
1Without Malice started on July 22 1998 on Star Plus. it covers 50 years of Independent India.The show has been conceived and directed by K. Bikram Singh and is anchored by veteran stage personality and actor Girish Karnand and Meenakshi Rani.
2Daughter Radha appeared in the film Umbartha as a child.
3Son named Raghu Amay Karnad.
4Daughter Shalmali Radha Karnad is a world famous doctor.
5Son Raghu is a famous journalist.

Pictures

Movies

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Tiger Zinda Hai2017pre-productionShenoy
Gurudakshinafilming
Shhuddhiannounced
Shivaay2016
242016/ISathya's Grandfather
Chalk N Duster2016/IManohar Sawant
Rana Vikrama2015
Rudra Tandava2015
Samrat & Co.2014Mahendra Pratap Singh
Sweety Nanna Jodi2013
Chandra2013
Mugamoodi2012Anand's Grandfather
Ek Tha Tiger2012Shenoy
Sweet Poison2012Professor Vaidyanathan
Kempe Gowda2011Mahadev (Kavya's father)
Komaram Puli2010Samara Simha Rao
Aashayein2010G. Parthasarthi
Life Goes On2009Dr. Sanjay Banerjee
8 x 10 Tasveer2009Advocate Anil Sharma
Aa Dinagalu2007Girish Naayak (Chethan's father)
Dor2006Randhir Singh
Iqbal2005Guruji
Chellame2004Rajasekhar
Shankar Dada MBBS2004Satya Prasad
The Return of Tezaab2003
Hey Ram2000Uppilli Iyengar
Pukar2000Mr. Rajvansh
Prathyartha1999Home Minister of India
Vande Mataram1999
China Gate1998Forest Officer Sunder Rajan
Aakrosh: Cyclone of Anger1998Prime Minister Rajvansh Shashtri
Kadhal Mannan1998
Ratchakan1997Sriram
Minsaara Kanavu1997Amal Raj
Aatank1996Inspector Khan
The Prince1996/IIVishwanath
Dharma Chakram1996
Aaghaatha1994Psychiatrist
Kadhalan1994Kakarla
Praana Daata1993
Cheluvi1992Village Headman
Antarnaad1991
Brahma1991
Mysore Mallige1991
Turning Point1991TV SeriesPresenter (1991)
Guna1991
Chaitanya1991
Jawahar1991
Vikram1991
Santha Shishunala Sharif1990Govindabhatta
Nai Dishayeh1990TV Series
Nehru: The Jewel of India1990
Mil Gayee Manzil Mujhe1989
Abala1989
Indradhanush1989TV SeriesKrishnamurthy Appuswamy
Akarshan1988
Kehkashaa1988
Sankeerthana1987
Sutradhar1987Zamindar
Malgudi Days1987TV SeriesSwami's Father
Nenapina Doni1986
Nilakurinhi Poothappol1986Appu Menon
Teri Aarzoo1986
Khandaan1985TV Series 1985
Nee Thanda Kanike1985
Pyaari Bhabhi1985
Khoon aur Sazaa1985
Sur Sangam1985Pandit Shivshankar Shastri
Meri Jung1985Deepak Verma
Bayen Hath Ka Khel1985
Zamana1985Satish Kumar
Divorce1984Jayant Oswal
Tarang1984Dinesh
Ek Baar Chale Aao1983Din Dayal
Aas Aur Pyaas1983
Ananda Bhairavi1983Bhagavathula Venkata Rama Sarma
Anveshane1983Rotti
Aparoopa1982
Umbartha1982Advocate Subhash Mahajan
Teri Kasam1982Rakesh
Paanch Qaidi1981
Shama1981Nawab Yusuf Khan
Apne Paraye1980Harish
Man Pasand1980Kashinath
Aasha1980Deepak
Beqasoor1980Dr. Anand Bhatnagar
Ratnadeep1979
Sampark1979Heera
Swami1977Ghanshyam
Jeevan Mukt1977Amarjeet
Manthan1976Dr.Rao
Nishant1975Schoolmaster
Jadu Ka Shankh1974
Vamsha Vriksha1971
Samskara1970Praneshacharya

Writer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Godhuli1977
Bhumika1977screenplay
Forest1973/I
Samskara1970
Aa Dinagalu2007screenplay
Agnivarsha: The Fire and the Rain2002play "The Fire and the Rain"
Utsav1984script
Kalyug1981screenplay
Ondanondu Kaladalli1979screenplay / story
Anugraham1978screen adaptation
Kondura (The Sage from the Sea)1978writer

Director

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Cheluvi1992
The Lamp in the Niche1990
Kanaka Purandara1988
Woh Ghar1984TV Movie
Utsav1984
Ondanondu Kaladalli1979
Godhuli1977
Forest1973/I
D.R. Bendre1972
Vamsha Vriksha1971

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Art That Shook the World2002TV Series documentaryPresenter
And the Show Goes on: Indian Chapter1996TV Movie documentaryHimself

Awards

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1980Filmfare AwardFilmfare AwardsBest ScreenplayGodhuli (1977)
1978Silver Lotus AwardNational Film Awards, IndiaBest ScreenplayBhumika (1977)

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1979Gold HugoChicago International Film FestivalBest FeatureOndanondu Kaladalli (1979)

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

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