Celebrated film producer, writer, and senior stage artiste Sadananda Suvarna passed away on Tuesday, July 16, at the age of 92 due to age-related illness. Suvarna, a native of Mulky who lived for many years in Mumbai, made significant contributions to Kannada theatre and television. He wrote popular plays such as “Dharmachakra,” “Suli,” “Donkubalada Nayakaru,” “Court Martial,” and “Urulu.”
Suvarna’s television series “Guddada Bhoota” gained immense popularity on Doordarshan, while his film “Ghatashraddha” received the prestigious Swarna Kamala award. He brought a fresh perspective to the amateur drama stage in Mangaluru and translated numerous plays into Kannada. His notable works include “Kurudu Kanchana,” “Guddeda Bhoota,” and “Gondulu,” with his documentary “Hucchu Manassina Hathu Mukagalu” receiving wide acclaim.
In addition to his artistic growth, Suvarna mentored both senior and junior artistes, significantly impacting the drama fields of Mumbai and Mangaluru. He was recently honoured with the prestigious B.V. Karanth Award by the Karnataka government. Writer Late Sitalaxmi Karkikodi documented his achievements in a research thesis titled “Ranga Jangama Sadananda Suvarna,” which 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 “Ghatashraddha,” and the Best Movie Award for “Kubi Mattu Iyala.” His final rites will be held in Mangaluru on Wednesday, July 17.