BANGALORE: Noted Kannada film and theater actor, playwright singer and poet Rajanand passed away at a private hospital in Mysore after a prolonged illness. He was 74.

Rajanand received the Rajyotsava award in 1991 and was conferred with the Karnataka State Film Award in 2001-02 for lifetime achievement.

Rajanand has penned more than 286 plays and has also rendered his voice to more than 50 songs.

Film personalities such as Ashwath, M P Shankar, Chethan Rama Rao, Pavithra Lokesh, Junior Narasimharaju, Rajesh, Renuka, producer Sandesh Nagaraj and others have condoled the death of Rajanand