KNT Sastry (born in 1945), a prominent film critic who also turned into a director, breathed his last on Thursday. A winner of as many as 7 National Awards (in categories as different as Best Film Critic, Best Film Book Publisher, Best Film Book Writer, Best Documentary, Best First Film, Best Film and Best Regional Film awards), he was a celebrated thinker in film circles.

Born in Karnataka, he worked in various capacities in different newspapers in his long and illustrious career. His documentary film on nomad theatre group Surabhi was a big hit. He made films like 'Tiladaanam', 'Kamli', 'Sarasammana Salado', and 'Shanu'. As a winner of 12 international awards, he was feted at about 45 festivals.

A documentary on girl child trafficking in Telangana, among others, went on to win an Audience Award at Amsterdam Documentary festival.

"He has also written English monograph books on Chittoor V. Nagaiah, Bhanumati Ramakrishna, LV Prasad, Nagi Reddy -Chakrapani. His Telugu book on Alanati Chalana Chitram is widely read," a report says.