The late literary legend also left a mark on children's literature, with his work Kathana Kavana, which received the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Bala Sahitya Puraskar in 2013.
Published May 30, 2025 | 11:21 AM ⚊ Updated May 30, 2025 | 11:21 AM
HS Venkatesh Murthy passes away. (X)
Synopsis: Renowned Kannada writer Dr. HS Venkatesh Murthy (HSV), aged 80, passed away in Bengaluru on May 30. A poet, playwright, critic, and professor, HSV enriched Kannada literature across genres. He was honored with several awards including the Rajyotsava and Sahitya Akademi awards. Leaders including CM Siddaramaiah and DyCM Shivakumar mourned his passing, praising his literary legacy.
Renowned Kannada writer Dr HS Venkatesh Murthy who had been suffering from ill health, passed away at a private hospital in Kengeri, Bengaluru on Friday, 30 May morning. He was 80 years old.
Dr HS Venkateshamurthy, popularly known as HSV in the Kannada literary world contributed to the literature as a prominent poet, playwright, critic and professor.
Born on 23 June, 1944, in Hodigere village, Channagiri taluk, Davangere district, HSV holds an MA in Kannada from Bangalore University. He also received his PhD degree for his thesis “Kannada Kavana Kathanagalu.”
He served as a Kannada professor at St. Joseph’s College of Commerce in Bengaluru for about 30 years.
HSV was also the president of the 85th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, and has contributed to the field of literature in many genres including poetry, drama, essays, novels, children’s literature, translation, and criticism.
An author of the Navodaya Literary Movement in Kannada literature, his play Huvi was also recognised by the ICSE board in India.
His poetry works include Kriyaparva, Eshtatondu Mugilu, and Uttarayana among others, while his prominent plays include Agnivarna, and Chitrapata.
The late literary legend also left a mark on children’s literature, with his work Kathana Kavana, which received the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Bala Sahitya Puraskar in 2013.
Apart from original works, he also won the Kendra Sahitya Academy Translation Award for his translation work of Kalidasa’s Ritusamhara. HSV was also awarded the Rajyotsava Award and Kannada Sahitya Academy Award.
Besides contributing to the Kannada literature, HSV has also contributed to the Kannada film industry. He has composed songs and dialogues for famous Kannada films including Chinnari Mutha, Kotreshi Kanasu, America America, and the latest one being Kirik Party.
His song “Hasiru Ribbon” won the Best Lyric Composition Award in the Kannada category at the 66th Filmfare South Awards.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and BJP MLA BY Vijayendra expressed their condolences for the loss of veteran writer.
CM Siddaramaiah wrote on X, “The demise of veteran writer H.S. Venkatesh Murthy is heart breaking. The world of Saraswat has been left poorer by the passing of Venkatesh Murthy, a distinguished writer who was involved in various genres of literature such as poetry, drama, children’s literature, translation, essays, novels and had a huge readership. I pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul. My condolences to their bereaved family.”
ಹಿರಿಯ ಸಾಹಿತಿ ಹೆಚ್.ಎಸ್.ವೆಂಕಟೇಶ್ ಮೂರ್ತಿಯವರ ನಿಧನ ನೋವುಂಟುಮಾಡಿದೆ. ಕವಿತೆ, ನಾಟಕ, ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ, ಅನುವಾದ, ಪ್ರಬಂಧ, ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ಹೀಗೆ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದ ವಿವಿಧ ಪ್ರಕಾರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ತೊಡಗಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು, ಅಪಾರ ಓದುಗ ಬಳಗ ಹೊಂದಿದ್ದ ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಬರಹಗಾರ ವೆಂಕಟೇಶ ಮೂರ್ತಿಯವರ ಅಗಲಿಕೆಯಿಂದ ಸಾರಸ್ವತ ಲೋಕ ಬಡವಾಗಿದೆ.
ಮೃತರ ಆತ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ಚಿರಶಾಂತಿ… pic.twitter.com/Neac59goKf
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 30, 2025
The deputy chief minister quoting the writer, “A smiling flower pattern that is born with laughter and ends with laughter – HSV,” wrote: “I was saddened to hear the news of the passing of H.S. Venkatesh Murthy, a veteran poet popularly known as HSV, who enriched the richness of Kannada literature through his lyrical songs. HSV displayed his talent in all literary genres, including novels, short stories, criticism, poetry, children’s literature, cinema literature, and theater. May the soul of the deceased rest in peace. I pray that God will give his immense fan base, family, and close friends the strength to bear this pain of separation. A heartfelt farewell to the poet of emotions. Om Shanti.”
ನಗುತ ಹುಟ್ಟಿ ನಗುತ ಮುಗಿವ ನಗುವ ಹೂವೆ ಮಾದರಿ – ಎಚ್ಚೆಸ್ವಿ
ಭಾವಗೀತೆಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದ ಶ್ರೀಮಂತಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸಿದ ಹಿರಿಯ ಕವಿ ಎಚ್ಚೆಸ್ವಿ ಎಂದೇ ಜನಜನಿತರಾಗಿದ್ದ ಎಚ್.ಎಸ್. ವೆಂಕಟೇಶಮೂರ್ತಿ ಅವರ ನಿಧನದ ಸುದ್ದಿ ಕೇಳಿ ದುಃಖವಾಯಿತು.ಕಾದಂಬರಿ, ಕತೆ,… pic.twitter.com/gWWvtmX4rw
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) May 30, 2025
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
