Prema Karanth
Encyclopedia
Prema Karanth was a well known 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, which was based on a novel by M. K. Indira
.
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.
, 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.
's movie Hamsageethe. She was also chosen as the art director for a film Kudre Motte in 1977. Initially associated only with art direction, Prema also tried her hand at film-making. Her first directorial venture was Phaniyamma which was based on a Kannada novel and this film earned her critical acclaim. The film is about the story of a girl who is widowed at a young age and her struggles and courage to overcome the stigma attached to it in a male-dominated society.
B. V. Karanth
Babukodi Venkataramana Karanth was a renowned film and theatre personality from India...
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, which was based on a novel by M. K. Indira
M. K. Indira
M. K. Indira was a well known novelist in the Kannada language. She has written novels like Phaniyamma which has won many awards. She started writing novels only after her age of forty-five....
.
Early life
Prema Karanth was born in the year 1936 at 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 SidlaghattaSidlaghatta
Sidlaghatta is a town in Chikkaballapur district in the Indian state of Karnataka.-Geography:Sidlaghatta is located at . It has an average elevation of 878 metres .It is the Silk City of state Karnataka.-Demographics:...
in the Kolar district
Kolar district
Kolar district is a district in Karnataka state of India. The town of Kolar is the district headquarters. Kolar district is located in the southern region of the State and is the eastern-most district of the Karnataka State...
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
B. V. Karanth
Babukodi Venkataramana Karanth was a renowned film and theatre personality from India...
at a friend's place. In 1958, they got married under Arya Samaj
Arya Samaj
Arya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement founded by Swami Dayananda on 10 April 1875. He was a sannyasi who believed in the infallible authority of the Vedas. Dayananda emphasized the ideals of brahmacharya...
rites and moved to Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
, where
Prema joined the Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University
Banaras Hindu University is a public university located in Varanasi, India and is one of the Central Universities of India. It is the largest residential university in Asia, with over 24,000 students in its campus. BHU was founded in 1916 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya under the Parliamentary...
to continue her education. B. V. Karanth later moved to Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
to join the National School of Drama
National School of Drama
National School of Drama is a theatre training institute situated at New Delhi, India, established . It is an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It was set up in 1959 by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and became an independent school in 1975...
. Prema accompanied him and joined the Aurobindo Ashram
Aurobindo Ashram
Sri Aurobindo Ashram is located at Dandia Bazar in the city of Vadodara, Gujarat, western India.it was the first ever ashram to become so popular in south areas....
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.
In drama
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 mimeMime
The word mime is used to refer to a mime artist who uses a theatrical medium or performance art involving the acting out of a story through body motions without use of speech.Mime may also refer to:* Mime, an alternative word for lip sync...
, 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.
In cinema
Prema's association with the cinema world started when she was chosen as the costume designer for G. V. IyerG. V. Iyer
Ganapathi Venkatrama Iyer was a well known Indian film director and actor. He was nicknamed "Kannada Bheeshma", and was the only person who made movies in Sanskrit. His films were well-known for their spiritual themes. He was born in 1917 in Nanjanagud in Mysore district of Karnataka state in...
's movie Hamsageethe. She was also chosen as the art director for a film Kudre Motte in 1977. Initially associated only with art direction, Prema also tried her hand at film-making. Her first directorial venture was Phaniyamma which was based on a Kannada novel and this film earned her critical acclaim. The film is about the story of a girl who is widowed at a young age and her struggles and courage to overcome the stigma attached to it in a male-dominated society.