Jayanth Kaikini (born 24 January 1955) is a poet, short story writer, playwright, columnist in Kannada and a lyricist in Kannada Cinema. He has so far published six anthologies of short stories, four books of poetry, three plays and a collection of essays. He is valued as one of the best writers in Kannada literature and has revolutionized the field by giving it a fresh new perspective. He has bagged in many notable awards like '

Karnataka Sahitya Academy Karnataka Sahitya Academy is an autonomous organization set up by the government of Karnataka to promote Kannada literature and recognize literary merit by giving awards. It is fully funded by the Directorate of Kannada and Culture, Government of ...

' award. Kaikini is regarded as one of the most significant writers in Kannada today. Kaikini has been conferred the honorary doctorate from Tumkur University.

Early life

Dr Kaikini was born in Gokarna to Gourish Kaikini, a thinker, litterateur and teacher, and Shanta Kaikini, a social worker. After studying a M.Sc. in

Biochemistry Biochemistry or biological chemistry is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. A sub-discipline of both chemistry and biology, biochemistry may be divided into three fields: structural biology, enzymology ...

from Karnataka University, Dharwad, he moved to

Mumbai Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the secon ...

where he worked as a chemist for many years. Jayanth Kaikini began his career working as a production chemist, eventually working also as a copywriter for advertising agencies in Bombay for 23 years before moving to Bangalore, where he held several key institutional positions - as founder of Kannada television channels Etv Kannada, Zee Kannada, becoming the literary editor of a monthly magazine Bhavana and hosting a widely popoular television talk-show series Namaskara while being intellectually associated with the Kannada film industry.

Career

Kaikini has published a number of poetry collections including Rangadindondishtu Doora, Kothitheertha, Shravana Madhyana, Neelimale, Theredashte Bagilu. He is also the author of short stories collections for Dagadoo Parabana Ashwamedha, Aamruthaballi Kashaya, Shabda Teera, Bannada kaalu, Toofan Mail, Ondu Jelebi, Charminar, Anarkaliya Safety Pin and Vichitraseneya Vaikhari. His work in translation No Presents Please has won widespread acclaim and accolades across the globe, including the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature. His first work in translation was Dots and Lines. Jayanth Kaikini's initial foray into lyricism for Kannada film undustry includes movies like Dweepa and

Chigurida Kanasu ''Chigurida Kanasu'' () is a 2003 Indian Kannada-language film directed by T. S. Nagabharana and starring Shiva Rajkumar, Anant Nag, Vidhya Venkatesh, Rekha Unnikrishnan and Avinash. It is based on the 1951 novel of the same name by legendary Ka ...

. Renowned Kannada film actor and singer Dr.Rajkumar sung
Bandhuve O Bandhuve
, for which

V. Manohar Vitla Manohar is an Indian music director, lyricist, film director and actor in Kannada and Tulu movies. He has scored music to several Kannada and Tulu films. He has written lyrics to more than 1000 songs in Kannada cinema. Early life Manoha ...

composed the music. He is credited with revolutionising the image of Kannada film songs, with the classic touch of literature, a nouvelle vocabulary and imagery that belongs to our lived worlds. Films like Mungaaru Male,

Gaalipata ''Gaalipata'' () is a 2008 Indian romantic comedy drama film written and directed by Yogaraj Bhat. It features an ensemble cast consisting of Ganesh, Anant Nag, Rajesh Krishnan, Diganth, Daisy Bopanna, Neethu and Bhavana Rao. The plot r ...

, Milana etc. have some touching and memorable songs with lyrics penned by him. He was hosting a TV Show "Rasa Rushige Namaskara" in Etv Kannada which a biography on Rashtrakavi Kuvempu. This show was very popular with a particular section of audience. He continued it with other series' such as "Kadala Theerada Bharghava",..etc.Lately he was seen judging the reality show "Yede tumbi Haaduvenu" along with the legendary singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and famous

Kannada Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...

music director and lyricist naada brahma

Hamsalekha Gangaraju (born June 23, 1951), professionally known as Hamsalekha, is an Indian film composer and a songwriter who works in South Indian cinema, predominantly in the Kannada film industry since the late 1980s. He is also a screenplay writer, ...

. Kaikini received the Karnataka Sahitya Academy award for his first poetry collection at the age of nineteen in 1974. He received the same award again in 1982, 1989 and 1996 for his short story collections. He has been awarded the Dinakara Desai award for his poetry, the B. H. Sridhar award for fiction, the Katha National award and Rujuwathu trust fellowship, the Kusumagraj Award, Masti Prashasti amidst several other honours for his writings as well as an honorary Doctorate from Tumkur University. He now lives in

Bangalore Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...

with his wife/partner Smita Kaikini, an analytic chemist by training and an archivist, manager of the Kaikini family archives. His daughter Dr Srajana Kaikini is a philosopher, artist, academic who has also a trained Odissi dancer, and son Ritwik Kaikini is a multimedia artist, musician and writer. Apart from Kannada, Jayant is fluent in Konkani, Marathi, Hindi and English.

Selected works

Poetry

* Rangadindondishtu Doora (1974) * Kotitheertha (1982) * Shravana Madhyahna (1987) * Neelimale (1997) * Jayant Kaikini Kavithegalu (2003) * Ondu Jilebi (2008) * Vichitra Senana Vaikhari(2021) * Ello maleyagide(2012: Collection of Film songs penned by him)

Stories

* Theredashte Baagilu (1982) * Gaala (1982) * Dagadoo Parabana Ashwamedha (1989) * Amruthaballi Kashaya (1996) * Jayanth Kaikini Kathegalu (2003) * Bannada Kaalu (1999) * Toofan Mail (2005) * Charminaar (2012) * No Presents Please... (2018) * Anaarkaliya Safetypin (2021)

Essays

* Bogaseyalli Male (2001) * Shabda Theera (2004) * Touring Talkies (2009) * Gulmohar (2018)

Plays

* Sevanti Prasanga (1997) * Ithi Ninna Amrutha (1999) * Jategiruvanu Chandeera (2004) * Rupantara Natakagalu (2018)

Songs

* " Oh " (''

'') * "Parichayisu" (''Prema Pallakki'') * "We Are OK" ('' Prasad'') * "Ee Sanje Yakaagide" ('' Geleya'') * "Ninnindale" ('' Milana'') * "Male Nintu Hoda Mele" ('' Milana'') * "Anisutide Yaako Indu" ('' Mungaru Male'') * "Kunidhu Kunidhu Baare" (''Mungaru Male'') * "Male Baruva Haagide" ('' Moggina Manasu'') * "Madhuvana Karedare" (''Inti Ninna Preetiya'') * "Belad Minuguta" (''Psycho'') * "Hey Mouna" (''

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is on ...

'') * "Minchaagi Neenu" (''

'') * "Poorva Para" * "Maleya Haniyalli" (''Januma Janumadallu'') * "Yaaro Kooda Ninna Haage" ('' Love Guru'') * "Yello Maleyaagide" ('' Manasaare'') * "Ondu Kanasu" (''Manasaare'') * "Onde Ninna" (''Manasaare'') * "Chalisuva Cheluve" ('' Ullasa Utsaha'') * "Nee Sanihake Bandare" ('' Maleyali Jotheyali'') * "Kudi Notave" (''Parichaya'') * "Eruveya" ("Kinnare") * "Turthinalli Geechida" ('' Chowka'') * "Madhura Pisumatige" (''Birugali'') * "Hoovina Baanadanthe Yaarigu Kaanadanthe" (''Birugaali'') * "Aaaramage Yiddenaanu" (''Gokula'') * "neenendare nannolage" ('' Junglee'') * "Hrudayave Bayaside Ninnane" ('' Krishnan Love Story'') * "Ninna Gungalle" '' Lifeu Ishtene'' * "Paravashanaadenu" (''

Paramathma ''Paramatman'' (Sanskrit: परमात्मन्, IAST: Paramātman) or ''Paramātmā'' is the Absolute ''Atman'', or supreme Self, in various philosophies such as the Vedanta and Yoga schools in Hindu theology, as well as other Indian re ...

'') * "Yenendu Hesaridali" (''

Anna Bond ''Anna Bond'' () is a 2012 Kannada-language romantic action film written and directed by Duniya Soori. Produced by Parvathamma Rajkumar, it stars Puneeth Rajkumar, Nidhi Subbaiah and Priyamani and Jackie Shroff in a negative role. The movie wa ...

'') * "Neeralli Sanna" ('' Hudugaru'') * "Kanna Minche Jaahiratu Kaliyuva Hrudayake" (''

Victory The term victory (from Latin ''victoria'') originally applied to warfare, and denotes success achieved in personal combat, after military operations in general or, by extension, in any competition. Success in a military campaign constitutes a ...

'') * "Yenano Helalende" ('' Dyavre'') * "Jiya Teri Jiya Mere" ('' Bhajarangi'') *"Ninna Danigagi Ninna Karegagi" ('' Savaari 2'') *"Ello Mareyaagi " ('' Savaari 2'') * "Jeene Laga" ('' Jaathre'') * "Nenape Nitya Mallige" (''

Kendasampige Kendasampige is a 2015 Indian Kannada thriller film directed by Duniya Soori and written by Surendranath. It stars newcomers Santhosh Reva (Vikky Varun) and Manvitha Harish in the lead roles, making their debuts with the film. Rajesh Natara ...

'') * "Kanasali Nadesu" (''

'') * "Mareyada Pustaka" (''

Rathavara ''Rathaavara'' is a 2015 Indian Kannada-language action thriller film written and directed by Chandrashekar Bandiyappa and produced by Dharmashree Manjunath. It stars Sri Murali and Rachita Ram in the lead roles. The supporting cast features P. ...

'') * "Mouna Thaalide Dhaari" (2014) (''

Ninnindale ''Ninnindale'' () is an 2014 Indian Kannada-language romantic comedy drama film directed by Jayanth C. Paranjee, a popular Telugu cinema film director making his debut in Kannada cinema. The film stars Puneeth Rajkumar and Erica Fernandes ...

'') * "Malage Malage" ('' Rikki'') * "Yele Mareyali" ('' Rikki'') * "Helilla Yarallu Naanu" ('' Krishna-Rukku'') * "Muddagi Neenu" ('' Ganapa'') * "Nanna Kanasina Roovaari" ( Sipaayi) * "Sariyaagi" ( Mungaru Male 2) * Bere Yaro Baredantide Salanu ('' Kaddipudi'') * Kaagadada Doniyalli (''

Kirik Party ''Kirik Party'' is a 2016 Indian Kannada-language romantic comedy film directed by Rishab Shetty and produced by G. S. Guptha and Rakshit Shetty. It stars Rakshit Shetty, Rashmika Mandanna, Samyuktha Hegde, and Achyuth Kumar while Aravin ...

'') * Aakasha Neene (Ambari) * Roopasi ('' Mugulu Nage'') * Badukina Bannave (''

Tagaru ''Tagaru'' () is a 2018 Indian Kannada-language action thriller film directed by Duniya Soori and produced by K. P. Srikanth. It features Shiva Rajkumar, Bhavana and Manvitha in the lead roles along with Dhananjay, Vasishta N. Simha and Devar ...

'') * Namma (''

'') * Jeeva Sakhi (''

'') * Aleva moda ("Aleva moda") * Tajaa Samachara ('' Natasaarvabhowma'') * Gamanisu Mungaru male 2 * Naanaadada Maatellva ("Gaalipata 2") * Neenu Bagehariyada ("Gaalipata 2")

Awards for Films

Filmfare Awards The Filmfare Awards are annual awards that honour artistic and technical excellence in the Hindi-language film industry of India.Al The Filmfare ceremony is one of the most famous film events in India. The awards were first introduced by th ...

* Best Lyricist (2009): ''

'' – "Minchagi Neenu Baralu" * Best Lyricist (2010): '' Manasaare'' – "Yello Maleyaagide" * Best Lyricist (2015): ''

'' – "Nenape Nithya Mallige" * Best Lyricist (2016): '' Mungaru Male 2'' – "Sariyagi Nenapide" * Best Lyricist(2021) : Act -1978- " Telodo Moda" * Nominated * Best Lyricist (2010): '' Maleyali Jotheyali'' – "Ni Sanihake Bandare" * Best Lyricist (2011): '' Krishnan Love Story'' – "Hrudayave" * Best Lyricist (2012): ''

'' – "Paravashanaadenu" * Best Lyricist (2013): ''

'' – "Yenendhu Hesaridali" * Best Lyricist (2014): '' Bhajarangi'' – "Jiya Teri" * Best Lyricist (2017): '' Mugulu Nage'' – "Roopasi Summane" Karnataka State Film Awards * Best Dialogue Writer for

2003–04 * Best Lyricist for Mungaru Male (2006–07)

Awards for Literary Works

* Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award for Rangadindondishtu Doora (1974) * Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award for Theredashte Baagilu (1982) * Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award for Dagadoo Parabana Ashwamedha (1989) * Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award for Amruthaballi Kashaya (1996) * Kusumagraj National Award for Poetry (2010) * Honorary Doctorate from Tumkur University in 2011 for his Contribution to Kannada Literature and Cinema. * Dinakar Desai Award for Poetry (2004) * B.H.Shridhara Award for Amruthaballi Kashaya (1997) * Katha Award from Delhi for Amruthaballi Kashaya *

DSC Prize for South Asian Literature The DSC Prize for South Asian Literature is an international literary prize awarded annually to writers of any ethnicity or nationality writing about South AsiaNote: South Asia for the purposes of the prize is defined as India, Pakistan, Sri Lan ...

2018 for his translated work ''No Presents Please...''