Sunday, July 17 2005 16:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Shimoga: Magsaysay award winner K V Subbanna, a legendary figure in the field of Kannada theatre, passed away last night (July 16, 2005) following a cardiac arrest, family sources said.

He was 74 and is survived by his wife and son.

Padmashree awardee and an acclaimed dramatist and writer Kuntagodu Vibhuthi Subbanna, who founded "NeeNaaSam" (Nelanakanteshwara Nataka Samsthe), hailed from Honnesara near Heggodu.

Born in 1932, Subbanna graduated from Maharaja College of Mysore Kuvempu (K V Puttappa) was his lecturer in the college and Gyanpeeth awardee and writer Prof U R Anantha Murthy was his classmate.

After graduation, Subbanna came under the influence of Shantaveri Gopala Gowda, a senior leader of socialist movement and embraced socialist philosophy, which he followed with commitment throughout his life.

Subbanna evinced keen interest in drama since his childhood days and floated NeeNaaSam as the first rural theatre in Heggodu as a premier institution to develop, perform and strengthen "Kannada Drama" and different performing arts. He later set up a training centre to promote Kannada dramas in all parts of the State.

He has received innumerable number of prizes and awards for his dedicated service in the field of Kannada drama, conducting yearly workshops on art and culture, publication wing "Ahshara Prakashana" and translating several plays of renowned dramatists to Kannada and presenting them on the stage.

His rural theatre NeeNaaSam is considered as prominent learning centre for reviving arts.