Court actor Vira Sathidar passes away after testing COVID positive

Actor and activist Vira Sathidar, who played the protagonist in Chaitanya Tamhane's much-acclaimed Marathi film Court, is no more. The 61-year-old actor, who had tested positive for COVID-19 a week ago, breathed his last in the early morning on Tuesday at AIIMS Nagpur. Sathidar, who had essayed the role of protest singer Narayan Kamble in the National Award-winning film, which was also India's official entry to the 88th Academy Awards, was a democratic rights activist and folk artiste in real life too.

Shocked to hear about Sathidar’s demise, Court director Chaitanya Tamhane said, “I am yet to process this extremely shocking news. I don’t know what to say. I learnt about his passing from Court’s casting director yesterday. I clearly remember the time we discovered Vira Sathidar and took him on board as the lead actor for my debut directorial. We have lost a talented artiste and one of the nicest human beings. The time spent with him will forever remain in all our memories." Sathidar is survived by his wife, son, daughter-in-law and grandson.