Mysore/Mysuru: Senior theatre personality and children’s playwright Dr. H.K. Ramanath, passed away at a private hospital in Manipal yesterday. He was 84.

He leaves behind his wife, three sons and a host of relatives and friends.

The body will be brought to Mysuru tonight and will be kept at his residence in Vaghdevinagar here for the public to pay last respects. Last rites are expected to be held tomorrow morning after his son Sudhakar arrives from the US.

Dr. Ramanath, who had obtained Ph.D in Performing Arts and Theatre Studies from University of Mysore (UoM), had served as a Kannada lecturer for 25 years, part-time lecturer at Lalitha Kala College of UoM, producer of various programmes at Regional Institute of Education and had also served as the Kannada lecturer at District Institute of Education and Training (DIET).

He had also acted in various plays such as Kelu Janamejaya, Ashadabhooti, Beralge Koral and Vamshavruksha among others. He has also directed many plays and has also written more than 50 books on drama and theatre plays.

He was also the chief convenor from 2007 to 17 of the weekly Kathe Kelona Banni programme by Kalasuruchi and had created a record by taking care of 555 episodes continuously.