{{Short description|Indian dramatist (1932–2005)}} {{redirect|Subbanna}} {{More citations needed|date=May 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see :Template:Infobox writer/doc --> |name = K.V. Subbanna |image = KVSubbanna.jpg |caption = |pseudonym = |birth_date = {{birth date|1932|02|20|df=y}} |birth_place = Heggodu, Sagara, Karnataka, India |death_date = {{death date and age|2005|7|16|1932|2|20|df=y}} |death_place = Heggodu, Sagara, Karnataka |occupation = Playwright, theatre, writer, |children = K. V. Akshara |period = |genre = Fiction |subject = |movement = Navya |debut_works = |notableworks = |signature = |website = |footnotes = }}

'''Kuntagodu Vibhuthi Subbanna''' (20 February 1932&nbsp;– 16 July 2005) was an acclaimed dramatist and writer in Kannada. He was the founder of the world-famous ''NINASAM'' (''Neelanakantheshwara Natya Sangha'') drama institute.<ref name="history">History of Ninasam is explained by {{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99feb14/sunday/head2.htm|author=Chaman Ahuja|title=Committed to culture and creativity|work=Online Edition of The Tribune, dated 1999-02-14|publisher=1999, The Tribune|access-date=2007-04-14}}</ref> Founded in 1949 in Heggodu, Sagara. ''Ninasam'', under the guidance of K.V. Subbanna, made significant contribution to Kannada theatre and other performing arts.<ref name="history"/> He was awarded, in 1991, the ''Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts'',<ref>[http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/Citation/CitationSubbannaKV.htm 1991 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Journalism, Literature, and the Creative Communication Arts&nbsp;– K. V. Subbanna<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> in recognition of his contribution to ''enrich rural Karnataka with the world's best films and the delight and wonder of the living stage''. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2004.

== Early life == He was born in Mundigesara<ref>{{Cite web| title=K. V. SUbbanna | url=https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d09907a31b06b0001790cca/t/5d3f1fb7e96dcc000137f08f/1564417976986/RM+K.V.+Subbanna+1991.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241230213912/https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d09907a31b06b0001790cca/t/5d3f1fb7e96dcc000137f08f/1564417976986/RM%2BK.V.%2BSubbanna%2B1991.pdf | archive-date=2024-12-30}}</ref> to parents who were Havyaka Brahmins. He then went to Mysore to do his B.A.(Hons.) in Kannada Literature at the University of Mysore, where he had such acclaimed teachers as Kuvempu and S.V. Parameshwara Bhatta and U.R. Anantha Murthy as a fellow-student. After his degree he returned to his village to continue his family profession in areca farming.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YiTnDwAAQBAJ | title=Community and Culture: Selected Writings by K.V. Subbanna; Edited by N. Manu Chakravarthy | last1=Subbanna | first1=K. V. }}</ref>

Under the influence of Shantaveri Gopala Gowda, a senior leader of the socialist movement in Karnataka, Subbanna espoused socialist ideology, to which he was committed throughout his life.<ref name="life">{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/at-this-age-i-am-learning-more-from-others/articleshow/670642.cms|title= At this age, I am learning more from others|work=The Times of India|access-date=2007-07-15|date=12 May 2004}}</ref> To promote Kannada dramas Subbanna set up training centres in various parts of Karnataka. He also established [http://www.aksharaprakashana.com/ Akshara Prakashana], a publishing house, to publish literature in Kannada related to theatre, which included translations of plays from other languages. His son K. V. Akshara is also a playwright.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}

==Awards and recognition== * Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1991 * Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1994 * Sahitya Akademi Award in 2003<ref name=herald>{{cite news | title =K V Subbanna honoured with State Sahitya Academy award | newspaper =Deccan Herald | date =10 April 2004 | url =http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr102004/d4.asp | access-date =28 September 2012 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160304204839/http://archive.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr102004/d4.asp | archive-date =4 March 2016 | url-status =dead }}</ref> * Padma Shree in 2004<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr252004/ac7.asp |title=Building a theatre of tomorrow |work= Deccan Herald |access-date=2006-10-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061023005951/http://deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr252004/ac7.asp |archive-date=23 October 2006 }}</ref>

==Notes== {{reflist}}

==External links== * Sudhanva Deshpande, 'The World was his Stage', {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20061201024821/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2217/stories/20050826002910300.htm]}} * [http://www.kamat.com/jyotsna/blog/blog.php?BlogID=866 Remembering Subbanna at kamat.com]

{{RMA winners of India}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Subbanna, K. V.}} Category:1932 births Category:2005 deaths Category:Indian theatre directors Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Subbanna, K.V. Category:People from Shimoga district Category:Ramon Magsaysay Award winners Category:Kannada people Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Kannada Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights Category:Dramatists and playwrights from Karnataka

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