Veteran film and theatre director Sadananda Suvarna will be conferred the Karavali Gourava Award at a function to be held at the Karavali Utsav grounds on December 31.

Talking to reporters here on Saturday, Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim said the committee headed by writer Vivek Rai recommended name of Mr. Suvarna for the award, the first to be given as a part of the Utsav.

Mr. Ibrahim said this award would be given every year henceforth.

Mr. Rai said the choice of Mr. Suvarna, who turned 84 on December 24, was unanimous.

Mr. Rai said the award was being given in recognition of his contribution to the drama and film industry in the country.

Mr. Suvarna has been modest about his work by which he has brought to light literature of writers such as U.R. Ananthamurthy and Poornachandra Tejaswi.

Mr. Suvarna’s ‘Karanth Darshana’, a documentary on the life of Jnanpith recipient Kota Shivaram Karanth, is much appreciated.

Entering the film world in 1975, Mr. Suvarna’s film ‘Ghatashradha’, directed by Girish Kasaravalli, won the Swarna Kamal award.

He has also produced classics such as ‘Mane’, ‘Tabarana Kathe’ and ‘Kubhi Mattu Iyala’.

He also bought out a television serial ‘Guddada Bhoota’ that was telecast on Doordarshan and later on private channels.

Mr. Suvarna has also created a documentary on reformer Naranayana Guru and the ‘Tulunadu Ondu Inukunoota’, which gives a glimpse of the coastal region.

Mr. Suvarna has produced and directed many plays including the court-based trilogy ‘Court Trivali’, which have won wide appreciation across the State.