Prema Karanth (15 August 1936 â€" 29 October 2007) was an Indian
theatre personality and the first-ever woman film-maker of Kannada
cinema. She was the wife of B. V. Karanth and was known for the
children's plays that she staged. She became the first ever woman
director in Kannada cinema when she directed the film Phaniyamma
(1983), which was based on a novel by M. K. Indira.Prema Karanth was
born in 1936 in Bhadravathi to a poor family. She lost her father
Devoji Rao early. Her mother Kamalamma was diagnosed of tuberculosis
and was not even allowed to touch her. Prema spent her early life at
Sidlaghatta in the Kolar district and after her mother's death, she
was brought up by her grandparents. After completing her schooling,
she came to Bangalore to join the St. Teresa's convent as a teacher.
She learnt typing and began to teach in primary schools. Prema also
started conducting small-time stage plays in the schools she worked
in. She was determined not to get married but she changed her mind
when she met B. V. Karanth at a friend's place. In 1958, they got
married under Arya Samaj rites and moved to Varanasi, where Prema
joined the Banaras Hindu University to continue her education. B. V.
Karanth later moved to Delhi to join the National School of Drama.
Prema accompanied him and joined the Aurobindo Ashram as a teacher.
She started experimenting drama in education, and started to teach
even subjects like History and mathematics using plays. On her
husband's persuasion, she too joined the National School of Drama
where she studied dramatics and completed her graduation. After
graduation, she worked with the NSD repertory for two years.Prema
Karanth started her career as a dramatist and directed plays like
Heddayana, Daithya, Banda Banda Gunavantha and Giant Mama which were
mainly oriented towards children. Her plays were mainly those that
were written in Kannada or of other Indian languages which were
translated to Kannada. She started a children's repertory called as
Benaka Makkala Kendra which apart from staging plays like Alilu
Ramayana, was also involved in teaching children the art of mime,
costume designing and usage of props. This repertory staged its first
play titled Alibaba in 1979. She was also a well-known costume
designer and has designed costumes for more than 120 plays including
Hayavadana, Oedipus, Othello and King Lear.
theatre personality and the first-ever woman film-maker of Kannada
cinema. She was the wife of B. V. Karanth and was known for the
children's plays that she staged. She became the first ever woman
director in Kannada cinema when she directed the film Phaniyamma
(1983), which was based on a novel by M. K. Indira.Prema Karanth was
born in 1936 in Bhadravathi to a poor family. She lost her father
Devoji Rao early. Her mother Kamalamma was diagnosed of tuberculosis
and was not even allowed to touch her. Prema spent her early life at
Sidlaghatta in the Kolar district and after her mother's death, she
was brought up by her grandparents. After completing her schooling,
she came to Bangalore to join the St. Teresa's convent as a teacher.
She learnt typing and began to teach in primary schools. Prema also
started conducting small-time stage plays in the schools she worked
in. She was determined not to get married but she changed her mind
when she met B. V. Karanth at a friend's place. In 1958, they got
married under Arya Samaj rites and moved to Varanasi, where Prema
joined the Banaras Hindu University to continue her education. B. V.
Karanth later moved to Delhi to join the National School of Drama.
Prema accompanied him and joined the Aurobindo Ashram as a teacher.
She started experimenting drama in education, and started to teach
even subjects like History and mathematics using plays. On her
husband's persuasion, she too joined the National School of Drama
where she studied dramatics and completed her graduation. After
graduation, she worked with the NSD repertory for two years.Prema
Karanth started her career as a dramatist and directed plays like
Heddayana, Daithya, Banda Banda Gunavantha and Giant Mama which were
mainly oriented towards children. Her plays were mainly those that
were written in Kannada or of other Indian languages which were
translated to Kannada. She started a children's repertory called as
Benaka Makkala Kendra which apart from staging plays like Alilu
Ramayana, was also involved in teaching children the art of mime,
costume designing and usage of props. This repertory staged its first
play titled Alibaba in 1979. She was also a well-known costume
designer and has designed costumes for more than 120 plays including
Hayavadana, Oedipus, Othello and King Lear.
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