MYSURU: Kannada author, historian, columnist and film director Vasu Malali passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
Malali (48), an Associate Professor of history at Bangalore University, was the daughter of writer Dr Malali Vasanthakumar.
She was said to be suffering from cancer and had been hospitalised a fortnight ago.
Her body was kept at her residence near Jnanabharathi, the university’s postgraduate campus near Kengeri in Bengaluru, for public viewing before it was taken for the last rites.
Her father Vasanthakumar, who was attending the Sahitya Sammelana in Shravanabelagola, rushed to Bengaluru on hearing the news.
Malali joined the Department of History in Bangalore University in 1998 after completing MA and PhD from the University of Mysore.
She was trained as a director in Hollywood and had directed the Kannada film Shashtra, which was based on naxalite Saketh Rajan, with actor Kishore in the lead role.
She had also written the story, screenplay and dialogues for the film. Malali had also produced the short films Nettharu Mathu Gulabi and Lal Salaam.
She was the author of many books, including Maukhika Ithihasa, Dakshina Karnatakada Arasu Manethanagalu, Karnataka Charitreya Kelavu Ayda Vishayagalu and Adhunika Baratha Ayda Vishayagalu.