Renowned Kannada poet H.S. Venkatesha Murthy (HSV) passed away at the age of 80 in Bengaluru on Friday, May 30. He was suffering from age-related ailments. He was a poet playwright, novelist, critic, and essayist. He worked extensively in Kannada Literature and Kannada Cinema. Murthy also worked as professor for more than three decades at St. Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru.
While he wrote poetry during different literary movements, he was celebrated as post-navya writer and also known as a Bhavageete poet. Buddhacharana written in 2020, which retells Buddha’s life and philosophy in verse was his last major work.
About H S Venkatesha Murthy
Murthy was born in 1944 in a remote village Hodigere, in Channagiri taluk in Shivamogga district. He earned master’s degree in Kannada from Central College in Bengaluru. For his research on Kannadadalli Kathana Kavanagalu, he received his Doctorate of Literature.
Some of the notable books written by him include: Shankadolagina Mouna, Uttarayana mattu; Kannadiya Surya, Suneetha Bhava. He was recipient of several awards like Bala Puraskar Award by Central Sahitya Academy, Karnataka Sahitya Academy Book Prize, Kannada Rajyothsava Award, Children Academy Honorary Award, Dinkara Desai Prathisthana Award and others.
He had a distinct style of writing, which often differed from his counterparts of the same literary movement. While he came to be recognised as a Post-navya writer, he was fond of Pu.Thi. Narasimhachar and K.S. Narasimhaswamy – Navodaya writers and two towering figures of Kannada literature. Navodaya refers to Renaissance in Kannada literature. His poetry often resembled their style of writing, thus cementing his understanding of profound and rich Kannada literature.
His career as a playwright was equally impressive. Uriya Uyyale, Agnivarna And Manthare are some of his notable plays. Murthy was interested in Children’s literature as well. He has written several songs, rhymes, plays and stories for them. Moreover, one of his stories, Chinnari Mutha was adapted into a film, which won national award. He even received awards for his stories written for children. Murthy directed Hasiru Ribbon, a drama released in 2018.
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