Girish Karnad
ActingAbout Girish Karnad
Girish Karnad (19 May 1938 – 10 June 2019) was an Indian actor, film director, Kannada writer, playwright and a Jnanpith awardee, who predominantly worked in Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Marathi films. His rise as a playwright in the 1960s marked the coming of age of modern Indian playwriting in Kannada.He was a recipient of the 1998 Jnanpith Award, the highest literary honour conferred in India.
Girish Karnad Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Girish Karnad reflects a strong mix of popular and critically appreciated roles. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Girish Karnad's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 52% of Girish Karnad's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Cheluvi, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Girish Karnad Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Girish Karnad's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Girish Karnad has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | The Master: Shyam Benegal | Himself | Flop | Similar → |
| 2017 | Tiger Zinda Hai | Shenoy | Average | Similar → |
| 2016 | 24 | Sathya's grandfather | Hit | Similar → |
| 2016 | Chalk N Duster | - | Hit | Similar → |
| 2015 | Rana Vikrama | K. V. Anand Rao | Flop | Similar → |
| 2015 | Gurudakshina | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 2015 | Rudra Tandava | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 2014 | Samrat & Co. | Mahendra Pratap Singh | Flop | Similar → |
| 2014 | Chandra | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 2012 | Mugamoodi | Anand's Grand father | Flop | Similar → |
| 2012 | Ek Tha Tiger | Shenoy | Average | Similar → |
| 2011 | Kempe Gowda | Mahadev (Kavya's father) | Average | Similar → |
| 2010 | Komaram Puli | Prime Minister | Flop | Similar → |
| 2010 | Aashayein | G. Parthasarthi | Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | Peepli Live | Avinash Nimade | Hit | Similar → |
| 2009 | Life Goes On | Alok | Flop | Similar → |
| 2009 | 8 x 10 Tasveer | Anil Sharma | Flop | Similar → |
| 2007 | Aa Dinagalu | Girish Naik | Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | Dor | Randhir Singh | Hit | Similar → |
| 2005 | Iqbal | Guruji | Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | Shankar Dada M.B.B.S. | Satya Prasad | Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | Chellamae | Rajasekhar | Average | Similar → |
| 2000 | Hey Ram | Uppilli Iyengar | Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | Pukar | Mr. Rajvansh | Hit | Similar → |
| 1999 | Prathyartha | Home Minister of India | Flop | Similar → |
| 1998 | China Gate | Forest Officer Sunder Rajan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1998 | Aakrosh: Cyclone Of Anger | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1998 | Kadhal Mannan | Rudran | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | Ratchagan | Sriram | Hit | Similar → |
| 1997 | Minsara Kanavu | Amalraj | Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | The Prince | Vishwanath | Flop | Similar → |
| 1996 | Aatank | Inspector Khan | Flop | Similar → |
| 1996 | Dharma Chakram | Mahendra | Hit | Similar → |
| 1994 | Kaadhalan | Kakarla Sathyanarayana Moorthy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | Cheluvi | Village Headman | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Gunaa | Doctor Ganesh | Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Chaitanya | - | Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Mil Gayee Manzil Mujhe | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Akarshan | Anand (Movie Director) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1987 | Sankeertana | - | Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | Naan Adimai Illai | - | Average | Similar → |
| 1985 | Sur Sangam | - | Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | Meri Jung | Deepak Verma | Hit | Similar → |
| 1984 | Tarang | Dinesh | Flop | Similar → |
| 1982 | Umbartha | Subhash Mahajan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1980 | Aasha | Mala's Friend | Flop | Similar → |
| 1977 | Swami | Ghanshyam | Flop | Similar → |
| 1976 | Manthan | Dr. Manohar Rao | Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | Nishant | Schoolmaster | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Samskara | Praneshacharya | Hit | Similar → |
Girish Karnad - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Girish Karnad?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Girish Karnad is "Cheluvi" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Girish Karnad acted in?
Girish Karnad has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Girish Karnad?
Other notable films include "Mil Gayee Manzil Mujhe", "Dor", and "Ratchagan".