Freedom fighter Karnati dead

Vijayawada: Freedom fighter Karnati Lakshminarasaiah passed away on Tuesday morning here. He was 95. Lakshminarasaiah started his career as folk artiste and gave a number of performances. He performed Burrakatha along with Shaik Nazar.

Lakshminarasaiah was a freedom fighter and went to jail twice. Under the influence of Dr Garikapati Raja Rao, he switched over to theatre and staged several social plays like Chairman, President Pattaiah, Kanyasulkam, Annapurna, Aakali Chavulu, Viswasanthi, Kappalu.

He also acted in a few films like Puttillu, Ee Charitra Ye Sirato. Lakshminarasaiah was "A" grade artiste and participated in hundreds of plays on All India Radio. Laskshminarasaiah was the secretary of Andhra Nataka Kala Samithi. He was known as "Praja Natudu" and "Janapada Kala Brahma."

As per his wish, his eyes and body were donated to a medical college. Former MLA K Subba Raju, Dr Kamineni Pattabhiramaiah, Nannapaneni Nageswara Rao, P Panduranga Rao, P Vijaya Bhaskara Sarma, H V R S Prasad expressed shock over the death of freedom fighter.