Then came a number of writers – to name a few –Masti Venkatesha Iyengar, Dattatreya Ramachandra Bendre (Da Ra Bendre), also called Ambikatanaya Dutta, K V Puttappa (KUVEMPU ), Pu Ti Narasimhachar, Shivarama Karantha, Sriranga, V K Gokak, H V Savitramma, A N Krishna Rao, (Aa Na Kru,)  T R Subba Rao (Ta Ra Su).
Not only novels and short stories but also poems got more popularity. Gopalakrishna Adiga, K S Narasimha Swamy, and K S Nissar Ahmed have contributed to a great deal in popularising poems which were later tuned to music.
While Kuvempu’s Ramayana Darshanam was a remarkable feat in literature, appealing more to the critically discerning literary audience, Adiga, Nissar Ahmed or Narasimha Swamy’s poems are closer to the culture and day to day life of a common man.
Contributions by detective writers like N Narasimhaiah, Jinde Nanjunda Swamy and others deserve a special mention. At a later stage, TK Rama Rao, Sudarshan Desai and others followed this genre of writing.
It was Karuneye Kutumbada Kannu, the novel by Krishnamurthy Puranika, which first made its way into the silver screen. Bangarada Manushya, a novel by TK Rama Rao, was made into a movie and ran for more than a year.
When Belli Moda was made into a film by Puttanna Kanagal, followed by Sharapanjara, Triveni became a household name.
It is no wonder that Kannada literature has bagged seven Jnanapith awards. Our poets of modern times include Rashtra Kavi GS Shivarudrappa, K S Nissar Ahmed, H S Venkatesha Murthy and B R Lakshman Rao, whose literary works have depth in itself.
If we look at drama, there is TP Kailasam, whose works remain popular till this very day, Dasharathi Dixit, Parvatha Vani, Girish Karnad and others. In humour literature, there is Na. Kasturi, Bee Chi, Ra Shi, Pa Vem Acharya, Goruru Ramaswamy Iyengar, and a lot others.
We certainly cannot forget Dr G P Rajaratnam who has popularised children’s literature. Who doesn't remember his Bannada Tagadina Tutturi Kaasige Kondanu Kasturi, Ratnana Padagalu and Naagana padagalu.
In all aspects like short stories, novels, poems, essays and humour, Kannada language has maintained its richness and nativity.  It is unfortunate to see a sharp decline in reading habits, despite publication of several literary works. With an exception to the works of S L Byrappa, and others,  people’s interest to buy Kannada books is waning and needs to improve.
When Aa Na Kru and Ta Ra Su novels were published, there were instances of people standing in long queues to buy them. Publishers would get request for second print. Now we hear a different story; except humour books, which are sold well, other genres such as novels, poetry and essays don’t lure many buyers.  Modern Kannada literature has richness in itself and continues to attract readers and definitely the match to the giants will emerge from the present crop of writers.