Well known Kannada writer and Jnanapeetha Award winner U R Ananthamurthy who was suffering from kidney problems, has breathed his last on Friday evening at Manipal Hospital. He was 82.

Ananathamurthy's association with the Kannada film industry goes back to the late 1960s, when his novel 'Samskara' was made into a film by late Pattabhirami Reddy. U R Ananthamurthy was one of the pioneers of the new wave cinema in Kannada and his 'Samskara' opened new gates to new wave cinema in Kannada.

After 'Samskara', it was Girish Kasaravalli who brough UR Ananthamurthy's another masterpiece novel 'Gatashraddha' on celluloid. The film is a landmark in not only Girish Kasaravalli's career but also to Kannada cinema. After 'Sanskara' and 'Gatashraddha', three of U R Ananthamurthu's short stories were brought on screen.

The first of the three was 'Bara' being directed by M S Sathyu. The film which revolves around a drought stricken town had Ananthnag and Pankaj Dheer in prominent roles. After that U R Ananthamurthy's another well known short story 'Avasthe' was brought on screen by Krishna Masadi. A decade ago well known journalists Uday Marakini and Jogi (Girish Rao) were instrumental in bringing Ananthamurty's 'Mouni' on screen. Incidentally, all the three films which were based on U R Ananthamurthy's short stories had Ananthnag playing the lead roles.

The last time U R Ananthamurthy was seen in a film related programme was organised by Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy. KCA celebrated 45 years of 'Samskara' and U R Ananthamurthy along with cameraman Tom Coven was present at the occasion.