Karnataka govt to recommend Kuvempu's name for Bharat Ratna; to confer Karnataka Ratna on Vishnuvardhan, Saroja Devi

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday decided to recommend to the Union government to confer the Bharat Ratna posthumously on legendary Kannada poet and writer Kuvempu (1904-94), while also deciding to confer the Karnataka Ratna award posthumously on yesteryear film stars Vishnuvardhan (1950-2009) and B Saroja Devi (1938-2025).

Kuvempu (K V Puttappa) was the first Kannada writer to win the Jnanpith Award (eight Kannada writers have won the award so far). Known as Rasthrakavi, he also penned the State anthem ‘Jaya Bharata Jananiya Tanujate.’ While he is renowned for his evocative poems on a range of topics, Kuvempu also wrote two novels, ‘Kanuru Heggaditi’ and ‘Malegalalli Madumagalu,’ and an epic ‘Sri Ramayana Darshanam.’

With Vishnuvardhan and Saroja Devi being chosen to be conferred the Karnataka Ratna, the number of recipients of the award has risen to 11. Incidentally, Kuvempu was the first Karnataka Ratna awardee (1992), followed by thespian Rajkumar. The last person to be awarded Karnataka Ratna was actor Puneeth Rajkumar (posthumously).

A renowned star, Vishnuvardhan acted in over 200 films, including cult movies such as 'Nagarahaavu', 'Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu', 'Sahasa Simha', 'Bandana', 'Karna', 'Muthina Haara', 'Yajamana' and 'Apthamitra'. The announcement comes a few days before his 75th birth anniversary (September 18).

Multi-lingual star Saroja Devi began her career in Kannada, and acted in blockbusters such as 'Kittur Chennamma', 'Amarashilpi Jakanachari' and 'Bhagyavantaru'. She had the distinction of acting alongside Rajkumar, Shivaji Ganeshan, MG Ramachandran, NT Rama Rao and even Bollywood star Dilip Kumar. She passed away on July 14, 2025.