Mandya: Senior journalist and well-known theatre artiste K. Prahlad Rao (87) passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Friday following brief illness.

He leaves behind two sons, two daughters and a host of relatives and friends.

His body was brought to his residence at V.V. Nagar, Kallahalli in Mandya last night and was kept for public viewing till this morning. Last rites will be performed at Hassan later today, according to family sources.

Profile: Prahlad Rao, who had settled down in Mandya, had served Mandya TAPMCS for over 40 years and had successfully adapted plays of ‘Pouravani’ editor K. Gundanna. He was instrumental in facilitating several film personalities including thespian Dr. Rajkumar at Mandya.

He had served as President of Mandya District Journalists Association and Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Prakash Kala Sangha, Karnataka Sangha, K.V. Natakotsava Samithi, District Library Committee, Saksharatha Samithi, Samskara Bharathi, Sirigannada and various other organisations in different capacities.

He was also the Founder- President of Kaushik Educational Institutions in Mandya.

As a journalist, he had worked for ‘Pouravani’, ‘Kolalu’ and Udaya TV. He had won many awards and prizes. His felicitation volume ‘Samskruti Siri’ was released recently.