Well-known film maker and theatreperson Prema Karanth died of cancer at 12.40 pm on
Monday. She was 71.

Ms Karanth had been admitted to the Trinity Hospital on October 23, and had slipped into coma. She was cremated at Wilson Garden Crematorium in the evening.

 Her husband, well-known theatre personality B V Karanth. had predeceased her.

Earlier, the body had been kept in Samsa Bayalu Rangamandira to enable relatives and public to pay their last respects.

Responding to a request from the Nataka Academy, the State Government had released a sum of Rs. 90,000 for her treatment.

 A graduate of the National School of Drama, Prema Karanth had specialised in direction. Benaka Makkala Kendra, established by her, is a pioneering institute in training children in theatre.

Benaka staged several highly poplular plays like Hayavadana all across Karnataka and even overseas.  Ms Karanth had directed six films, including “Phaniyamma,” a landmark movie about a child widow.

Condolences
Governor Rameshwar Thakur has condoled the death of  Prema Karanth.

In a release sent from the Governor’s office, Mr Rameshwar Thakur described the late Ms Karanth as as a person who single handedly built the Benaka Ranga Mandira and encouraged children’s theatre and supporting the Rangabhoomi initiative established by the late B V Karanth.