Kodaira-Saito vanishing and applications

The first part of the paper contains a detailed proof of M. Saito's generalization of the Kodaira vanishing theorem, following the original argument and with ample background, based on a lecture given at a Clay workshop on mixed Hodge modules. The second part contains some recent applications, and a Kawamata-Viehweg-type statement in the setting of mixed Hodge modules.