Girish Karnad (19 May 1938 – 10 June 2019) was an Indian actor, film director, Kannada writer, playwright and a Jnanpith awardee, who predominantly worked in Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Marathi films. His rise as a playwright in the 1960s marked the coming of age of modern Indian playwriting in Kannada.He was a recipient of the 1998 Jnanpith Award, the highest literary honour conferred in India.

Filmography

• 2018Revisiting Samskara
• 2017Tiger Zinda Hai — Shenoy
• 201624 — Sathya's grandfather
• 2016Chalk N Duster
• 2015Gurudakshina
• 2015Rana Vikrama — K. V. Anand Rao
• 2015Rudra Tandava
• 2014Benegal's New Cinema
• 2014Chandra
• 2014Samrat & Co. — Mahendra Pratap Singh
• 2013Sweety Nanna Jodi
• 2012Ek Tha Tiger — Shenoy
• 2012Mugamoodi — Anand's Grand father
• 2012Yaare Koogadali
• 2011Kempe Gowda — Mahadev (Kavya's father)
• 2010Aashayein — G. Parthasarthi
• 2010Komaram Puli — Prime Minister
• 2010Peepli Live — Avinash Nimade
• 20098x10 Tasveer — Anil Sharma
• 2009Life Goes On — Alok
• 2008Dhanam — Ananth's father
• 2007Aa Dinagalu — Girish Naik, Screenplay
• 2007Lava Kusha
• 2006Dor — Randhir Singh
• 2006Tananam Tananam — Shastry
• 2005Iqbal — Guruji
• 2004Chellamae — Rajasekhar
• 2004Shankar Dada M.B.B.S. — Satya Prasad
• 2002Agni Varsha — Writer
• 2001Vande Matharam
• 2000Hey Ram — Uppilli Iyengar
• 2000Pukar — Mr. Rajvansh
• 1999A.K.47 — Jagannath Rao
• 1999Kaanooru Heggadithi — Chandre Gowda, Director, Screenplay
• 1999Prathyartha — Home Minister of India
• 1998Aakrosh: Cyclone Of Anger
• 1998China Gate — Forest Officer Sunder Rajan
• 1998Kadhal Mannan — Rudran
• 1997Minsara Kanavu — Amalraj
• 1997Nagamandala — Writer
• 1997Ratchagan — Sriram
• 1996Aatank — Inspector Khan
• 1996Dharma Chakram — Mahendra
• 1996Sivasakthi — Siva’s Father
• 1996The Prince — Vishwanath
• 1995Sangeetha Sagara Ganayogi Panchakshara Gavai — Hangal Kumaraswamiji
• 1994Kaadhalan — Kakarla Sathyanarayana Moorthy
• 1992Cheluvi — Village Headman, Director, Writer
• 1992Pranadaata — Dr. Siva Prasad
• 1991Bramma — Jennifer's father
• 1991Chaitanya
• 1991Gunaa — Doctor Ganesh
• 1991Inner voice
• 1991Mysooru Mallige
• 1990Nehru: The Jewel of India
• 1990Prathama Ushakirana — Psychiatrist
• 1990Santha Shishunala Sharif — Govindabhatta
• 1989Mil Gayee Manzil Mujhe
• 1988Akarshan — Anand (Movie Director)
• 1988Kanaka Purandara — Director
• Malgudi Days — W. T. Srinivasan (Swami’s Father) / The Watchman, Creator
• 1987Neela Kurinji Poothappol.... — Appu Menon
• 1987Sankeertana
• 1987Sutradhar — Zamindar
• 1986Naan Adimai Illai
• 1985Meri Jung — Deepak Verma
• 1985Nee Thanda Kanike
• 1985Sur Sangam
• 1985Zamana — Satish Kumar
• 1984Divorce — Jayant Oswal
• 1984Tarang — Dinesh
• 1984Utsav — Director, Screenplay
• 1983Ananda Bhairavi — Bhagavathula Venkata Rama Sarma
• 1983Anveshane — Rotti
• 1982Aparoopa — Mr. Kanna
• 1982Umbartha — Subhash Mahajan
• 1981Kalyug — Screenplay
• 1981Paanch Qaidi
• 1981Shama
• 1980Aasha — Mala's Friend
• 1980Apne Paraye — Harish
• 1980Man Pasand — Kashinath
• 1979Ondanondu Kaladalli — Director, Story, Screenplay, Writer, Dialogue
• 1979The Jewelled Lamp — Madan (Railway official)
• 1978The Sage from the Sea — Screenplay
• 1977Bhumika — Screenplay
• 1977Kakana Kote — Screenplay
• 1977Swami — Ghanshyam
• 1977Tabbaliyu Neenade Magane — Director, Screenplay
• 1976Manthan — Dr. Manohar Rao
• 1975Nishant — Schoolmaster
• 1974Jadu Ka Shankh
• 1973Kaadu — Writer, Director
• 1971Vamsha Vriksha — Director
• 1970Samskara — Praneshacharya, Screenplay, Dialogue

Appearances as themselves (1)

• 2022The Master: Shyam Benegal — Himself