Veteran director of Kannada cinema TS Ranga of 69 years died of heart attack on Sunday morning. He was admitted to hospital for serious sugar complaint. He leaves behind wife and a daughter.

Son of politician and social servant TS Shamanna, TS Ranga was active in theatre and cinema activities. He was actor, screenplay writer, director of films, documentaries etc.

TS Ranga entered filmdom via ‘Grahana’ of TS Nagabharana. He had written screenplay and got the national award for it. Gijagana Goodu was first independent direction of Ranga TS in 1978. He directed ‘Savithri’ in 1980 that got him awards. Dr Chandrasekhara Kambara Gnanapith award winner written lyrics for that film ‘Savithri’.

In Hindi TS Ranga directed ‘Giddh’ on atrocities of woman. Ompuri, Smitha Patil, Nana Patekar acted cinema had BV Karanth music. The film won special award at the national level from judges.

TS Ranga wife Ashwini is an actress in Kannada, Tamil and Telugu language films.