Rons Bantwal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Jul 16: Sadananda Suvarna, a celebrated film producer, writer, and senior stage artiste, passed away on Tuesday, July 16 at the age of 92 due to age-related illness.

Suvarna, a native of Mulky, lived for several years in Mumbai. He contributed significantly to Kannada theatre, writing popular plays such as Dharmachakra, Suli, Donkubalada Nayakaru, Court Martial, and Urulu.

Suvarna’s television series Guddada Bhoota was very popular on Doordarshan. The film Gatashraddha produced by Suvarna received the prestigious Swarna Kamala award. He brought a new touch to the amateur drama stage in Mangaluru and translated numerous plays from other languages into Kannada. His notable works include Kurudu Kanchana, Guddeda Bhoota, and Gondulu. His documentary Hucchu Manassina Hathu Mukagalu was widely appreciated.

Sadananda Suvarna not only grew as an artist but also mentored both senior and junior artistes, making significant contributions to the drama fields of Mumbai and Mangaluru.

Suvarna was recently honoured with the prestigious B V Karanth Award by the government of Karnataka. Writer Late Sitalaxmi Karkikodi wrote a research thesis, Ranga Jangama Sadananda Suvarna, detailing his achievements, and secured a doctorate from Mumbai University.

Suvarna also received the Brahmashree Guru Narayana Swamy Prakashana and Charitable Trust Award of Atmashakti, the Golden Lotus Award for the movie Ghatashraddha, and the Best Movie Award for Kubi Mattu Iyala.

According to reliable sources, the final rites of Sadananda Suvarna will be held in Mangaluru on Wednesday, July 17.