K. V. Subbanna Biography 
K. V. Subbanna was a prominent dramatist from Karnataka who founded Neelanakantheshwara Natya Sangha drama institute in 1949 in Heggodu, Sagara. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2004 and Kalidas Samman by the government of Madhya Pradesh in 2001 for his contributions to Indian theatre. He received Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts in 1991 and Sahitya Akademi Award in 2003. Subbanna played a significant role in promoting Kannada theatre across the state in the post-independent period. He also established Akshara Prakashana, a publishing house which published works related to Kannada theatre. Subbanna set up training centres in various parts of Karnataka.
His full name is Kuntagodu Vibhuthi Subbanna. He was born on 20 February 1932 in Heggodu, Sagara district of present day Karnataka state. He travelled 12 kilometres every day to Sagar to complete his basic education at the Government High School. In the mid-1940s as a teenager he was a member of a group he used to exchange views about the political goings-on and their dreams about their future after Independence. The friends used to gather under a thatched roof in the evenings to involve in such discussions. It gave them the idea to set up a libraray. These young enthusiasts also formed a cultural group post-independence. It was named after Nilakanteshwara, the local deity of Heggodu.
Neelanakantheshwara Natya Sangha gave preference to theatre related activities since its formation. But after attending a film appreciation course at Pune, Subanna started screening film classics and holding film festivals, as a part of this cultural group. By mid-1970s he included many film courses with the cultural group. The group became popular after film festivals and newly started film courses. Ford Foundation gave a grant for a rural theatre and film culture project called Janaspandana till 1985. Ninasam Theatre Institute started in 1980 offered a diploma course in theater. Subbanna dedicated his full life for the promotion of art in Karnataka state.
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Updated: June 26, 2016
