Mangaluru: Veteran stage actor and National Award-winning filmmaker Sadananda Suvarna (93) passed away on Tuesday at a private hospital in Mangaluru.

Arrangements will be made tomorrow at the town hall from 1 pm to 3 pm for people to pay their last respects. As per his wishes, his body will be donated, according to family sources.

Suvarna, a celebrated figure in Kannada and Tulu theater, wrote and directed numerous successful dramas. He was known for his acclaimed films such as "Ghatashraddha," "Kubi Mattu Iyala," popular TV serial "Guddada Bhootha," and a documentary giving an intimate look into the life of Shivaram Karanth.

Originally from Mulki in Dakshina Kannada, Suvarna completed his high school education in Mumbai. He worked as a teacher in a night high school in Mumbai for five years before becoming a paint dealer for three decades. His contributions to Kannada theater in Mumbai spanned five decades, during which he also wrote short stories and novels.

Suvarna served as the executive producer for national award-winning films like Tabarana Kathe, Mane, and Kraurya. His directorial debut came in 1989 with the film Kubi Mattu Iyala, based on a short story by Poornachandra Tejaswi. He also directed documentaries on prominent figures such as Shivaram Karanth and Sri Narayana Guru. ‘Tulunadu Ondu Inukunota’, a documentary showcasing the rich culture of Tulunadu is also one of his celebrated works.

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New Delhi (PTI): Heatwave conditions are very likely to prevail over isolated pockets of northwest, central and the adjoining parts of east India for the next four to five days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.

It said isolated pockets of Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Punjab, East Rajasthan, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, West Uttar Pradesh, West Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha and scattered pockets of East Uttar Pradesh are expected to witness heatwave conditions on different dates between April 20 and April 25.

"Hot and humid weather conditions are very likely to prevail in isolated pockets over Gangetic West Bengal during April 20-26; Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal during April 20–22; Kerala and Mahe, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam during April 20-24; coastal areas of Gujarat on April 24 and April 25," the IMD said.

Also, warm night conditions are expected to prevail in isolated pockets over Haryana, Chandigarh, West Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha on April 20 and April 21, Chhattisgarh on April 20, and Odisha between April 20 and April 22.

The IMD highlighted that moderate to intense thunderstorm activity can occur over different states of south, central, east and northwest India on Monday.

There is also a possibility of hailstorms over Madhya Maharashtra, Marathawada, Madhya Pradesh Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh on Monday, according to the IMD.