14 Facts About Prema Karanth

Prema Karanth was an Indian theatre personality and the first-ever woman film-maker of Kannada cinema.

Prema Karanth 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.

Prema Karanth was born in 1936 in Bhadravathi to a poor family.

Prema Karanth spent her early life at Sidlaghatta in the Kolar district and after her mother's death, she was brought up by her grandparents.

Prema Karanth learnt typing and began to teach in primary schools.

Prema Karanth started conducting small-time stage plays in the schools she worked in.

In 1958, they got married under Arya Samaj rites and moved to Varanasi, where Prema Karanth joined the Banaras Hindu University to continue her education.

Prema Karanth later moved to Delhi to join the National School of Drama.

Prema Karanth accompanied him and joined the Aurobindo Ashram as a teacher.

Prema Karanth started experimenting drama in education, and started to teach even subjects like History and mathematics using plays.

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.

Prema Karanth's plays were mainly those that were written in Kannada or of other Indian languages which were translated to Kannada.

Prema Karanth was a well-known costume designer and has designed costumes for more than 120 plays including Hayavadana, Oedipus, Othello and King Lear.

Prema Karanth was chosen as the art director for a film Kudre Motte in 1977.