| Sahitya Akademi Award for Kannada | |
| Subheader: | Award for contributions to Kannada literature |
| Awarded For: | Literary award in India |
| Sponsor: | Sahitya Akademi, Government of India |
| Firstawarded: | 1955 |
| Lastawarded: | 2023 |
| Holder Label: | Most recent winner |
| Award1 Type: | Total awarded |
| Award1 Winner: | 69 |
| Award2 Type: | First winner |
| Award2 Winner: | Kuvempu |
| Award3 Type: | Recent winner |
| Award3 Winner: | Lakshmisha Tolpadi |
| Website: | sahitya-akademi.gov.in |
Sahitya Akademi Award is given each year, since 1955, by Sahitya Akademi (India's National Academy of Letters), to writers and their works, for their outstanding contribution to the upliftment of Indian literature and Kannada literature in particular.[1] [2] No Awards were conferred in 1957 and 1963.[3]
| Year | Image | Recipients | Works | Genre | Ref(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Kuvempu | Sri Ramayana Darshanam | Epic | [4] | ||
| 1956 | R. S. Mugali | Kannada Sahitya Charitre | History of Literature | |||
| 1957 | No award | |||||
| 1958 | D. R. Bendre | Aralu-Maralu | Poetry | |||
| 1959 | K. Shivaram Karanth | Yakshagana Bayalata | A treatise on folk-drama | |||
| 1960 | V. K. Gokak | Dyava-Prithivi | Poetry | |||
| 1961 | A. R. Krishnashastry | Bengali Kadambarikara Bankim Chandra | A critical study | |||
| 1962 | Devudu Narasimha Sastri | Mahakshatriya | Novel | |||
| 1963 | No award | |||||
| 1964 | B. Puttaswamayya | Kranti-Kalyana | Novel | |||
| 1965 | S. V. Ranganna | Ranga Binnapa | Philosophical reflections | |||
| 1966 | P. T. Narasimhachar | Hamsa Damayanti Mattu Itara Rupakagalu | Musical plays | |||
| 1967 | D. V. Gundappa | Shrimad Bhagavadgita Tatparya Athava Jivanadharmayoga | Philosophical expositions | |||
| 1968 | Masti Venkatesha Iyengar | Sannakathegalu (12-13) | Short stories | |||
| 1969 | H. Tipperudraswamy | Karnataka Samskriti Sameekshe | Cultural Study | |||
| 1970 | S. B. Joshi | Karnataka Samskritiya Poorva Peethike | Cultural Study | |||
| 1971 | Adya Rangacharya | Kalidasa | Literary criticism | |||
| 1972 | S. S. Bhoosnurmath | Shoonyasampadaneya Paramarshe | Commentary | |||
| 1973 | V. Seetharamaiah | Aralu Baralu | Poetry | |||
| 1974 | Gopalakrishna Adiga | Vardhamaana | Poetry | |||
| 1975 | S. L. Bhyrappa | Daatu | Novel | |||
| 1976 | M. Shivaram | Mana Manthana | Psychiatric studies | |||
| 1977 | K. S. Narasimhaswamy | Tereda Baagilu | Poetry | |||
| 1978 | B. G. L. Swamy | Hasuru Honnu | Travelogue | |||
| 1979 | A. N. Murthy Rao | Chitragalu Patragalu | Reminiscences | |||
| 1980 | Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar | Americadalli Goruru | Travelogue | |||
| 1981 | Chennaveera Kanavi | Jeewa Dhwani | Poetry | |||
| 1982 | Chaduranga | Vaishakha | Novel | |||
| 1983 | Yashwant Chittal | Katheyaadalu Hudugi | Short stories | |||
| 1984 | G. S. Shivarudrappa | Kavyartha Chintana | Literary criticism | |||
| 1985 | T. R. Subba Rao | Durgaastamana | Novel | |||
| 1986 | Vyasaraya Ballal | Bandaya | Novel | |||
| 1987 | K. P. Poornachandra Tejaswi | Chidambara Rahasya | Novel | |||
| 1988 | Shankar Mokashi Punekar | Avadheshwari | Novel | |||
| 1989 | H. M. Nayak | Samprati | Belles-Lettres | |||
| 1990 | Devanur Mahadeva | Kusuma Baale | Novel | |||
| 1991 | Chandrashekhara Kambara | Sirisampige | Play | |||
| 1992 | S. R. Ekkundi | Bakulada Hoovugalu | Poetry | |||
| 1993 | P. Lankesh | Kallu Karaguva Samaya | Short stories | |||
| 1994 | Girish Karnad | Taledanda | Play | |||
| 1995 | Kirtinath Kurtakoti | Uriya Nalage | Criticism | |||
| 1996 | G. S. Amur | Bhuvanada Bhagya | Literary Criticism | |||
| 1997 | M. Chidananda Murthy | Hosatu Hosatu | Criticism | |||
| 1998 | B. C. Ramchandra Sharma | Sapthapadi | Poetry | |||
| 1999 | D. R. Nagaraj | Sahitya Kathana | Essays | |||
| 2000 | Shantinath Desai | Om Namo | Novel | |||
| 2001 | L. S. Seshagiri Rao | English Sahitya Charitre | History of Literature | |||
| 2002 | S. Narayana Setty | Yugasandhya | Epic | |||
| 2003 | K. V. Subbanna | Kaviraja Marga Mattu Kannada Jagattu | Essays | |||
| 2004 | Geetha Nagabhushan | Baduku | Novel | |||
| 2005 | Raghavendra Patil | Teru | Novel | |||
| 2006 | M. M. Kalburgi | Marga 4 | Essays | |||
| 2007 | Kum. Veerabhadrappa | Aramane | Novel | |||
| 2008 | Shrinivas B. Vaidya | Halla Bantu Halla | Novel | |||
| 2009 | Vaidehi | Krouncha Pakshigalu | Short Stories | |||
| 2010 | Rahamat Tarikere | Katthiyanchina Daari | Literary Criticism | |||
| 2011 | Gopalakrishna Pai | Swapna Saraswata | Novel | |||
| 2012 | H. S. Shivaprakash | Mabbina Haage Kaniveyasi | Poetry | [5] | ||
| 2013 | C. N. Ramachandran | Akhyana-Vyakhyana | Essays | [6] | ||
| 2014 | Govindray H. Nayak | Uttaraardha | Essays | [7] | ||
| 2015 | K. V. Tirumalesh | Akshaya Kavya | Poetry | [8] | ||
| 2016 | Bolwar Mahammad Kunhi | Swatantryada Ota | Novel | [9] | ||
| 2017 | T. P. Ashoka | Kathana Bharati | Literary criticism | [10] | ||
| 2018 | K. G. Nagarajappa | Anushreni-Yajamanike | Literary criticism | [11] | ||
| 2019 | Vijaya | Kudi Esaru | Autobiography | [12] | ||
| 2020 | Veerappa Moily | Sri Bahubali Ahimsadigvijayam | Epic | [13] [14] | ||
| 2021 | D. S. Nagabhushana | Gandhi Kathana | Biography | [15] [16] | ||
| 2022 | Mudnakudu Chinnaswamy | Bahutvada Bhaarata mattu Bouddha Taatvikate | Collection of Articles | [17] | ||
| 2023 | Lakshmisha Tolpadi | Mahabharatha Anusandhanada Bharathayatre | Essays | |||
| Year | Image | Recipient(s) | Work(s) | Genre | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Mandara Keshava Bhat & Jattappa Rai | Total Contribution to Tulu Literature (Jointly received) | |||
| 2001 | T. V. Venkatachala Sastry | Classical and Medieval Literature | |||
| 2005 | L. Basavaraju | Classical and Medieval Literature | |||
| 2006 | Hampa Nagarajaiah | Classical and Medieval Literature | |||
| 2007 | S. Shettar | Classical and Medieval Literature & Kannada Literature | |||
| 2010 | Addanda Cariappa & Mandira Java Appanna | Kodava (Jointly received) | |||
| Year | Image | Recipient(s) | Translated Work(s) | Genre | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | S. V. Parameshwara Bhat | Kannada Kalidasa Mahasamputa | Poetry & drama | ||
| 1991 | H. S. Venkateshamurthy | Rithu Vilasa | Poetry | ||
| 1992 | Saraswati Gajanan Risbud | Valmiki Ramayana Shapa Mattu Vara | Epic | ||
| 1993 | Kirthinath Kurtakoti | Marathi Samkriti: Kelavu Samasyegalu | Criticism | ||
| 1994 | Pradhan Gurudatta | Jaya Yaudheya | Novel | ||
| 1995 | Thippeswamy | Nirmala | Novel | ||
| 1996 | Shesha Narayana | Hadinentaneya Aksharekhe | Novel | ||
| 1997 | Neerpaje Bheema Bhatta | Kalhanana Rajatarangini Vol I & II | Poetry | ||
| 1998 | C. Raghavan | Indulekha | Novel | ||
| 1999 | Vamana D. Bendre | Kosala | Novel | ||
| 2000 | L. Basavaraju | Buddha Charite | Epic | ||
| 2001 | Bannanje Govindacharya | Aveya Mannina Atada Bandi | Play | ||
| 2002 | Veena Shanteshwara | Nadi Dweepagalu | Novel | ||
| 2003 | Snehalata Rohidkar | Vichitra Varna | - | ||
| 2004 | Chandrakant M. Pokale | Mahanayaka | Novel | ||
| 2005 | Panchakshari Hiremath | Hemantha Ruthuvina Swaragalu | Short stories | ||
| 2006 | R. S. Lokapura | Kannada Jnaneshwari | Poetry | ||
| 2007 | R. Lakshminarayana | Kannada Vakrokti | Poetics | ||
| 2008 | Hasan Nayeem Surakoda | Raseethi Tikeetu | Autobiography | ||
| 2009 | D. N. Srinath | Bheeshma Sahaniyavara Prathinidhika Kathegalu | Short stories | ||
| 2010 | A. Janaki | Godana | Novel | ||
| 2011 | Tamil Selvi | Nanu Avanalla...Avalu...! | Autobiography | [18] | |
| 2012 | K. K. Nair & Ashok Kumar | Hagga (Part 1, 2, 3) | Novel | ||
| 2013 | J. P. Doddamani | Mahatma Jyotirao Phule | Biography | [19] | |
| 2014 | G. N. Ranganatha Rao | Mohan Das: Ondu Sathya Kathe | Biography | ||
| 2015 | N. Damodara Shetty | Kochereti | Novel | ||
| 2016 | O. L. Nagabhushanaswamy | A. K. Ramanujan: Ayda Kathegalu | Essays | ||
| 2017 | H. S. Srimathi | Mahashewtadevi Avara Katha Sahitya-1 & 2 | Short stories | ||
| 2018 | Giraddi Govindaraj | Jaya: Mahabharatha Sachitra Marukatha | Epic | ||
| 2019 | Vittalrao T. Gaikwad | Dalita Sahityada Soundarya Prajne | Literary Criticism | ||
| Year | Image | Recipient(s) | Work(s) | Genre | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | – | Veeranna Madiwalara | Nelada Karuneya Dani | Poetry | |
| 2012 | – | Arif Raja | Jangama Fakeerana Jolige | Poetry | [20] |
| 2013 | – | Lakkur Ananda | Batavaadeyagada Raseethi | Poetry | |
| 2014 | – | Kavya Kadame | Dhyanakke Thareekhina Hangilla | Poetry | |
| 2015 | – | Mounesh Badiger | Mayakolahala | Short stories | |
| 2016 | – | Vikrama Hatwara | Zero Mattu Ondu | Short stories | |
| 2017 | – | Shanti K. Appanna | Manasu Abhisaarike | Short stories | |
| 2018 | – | Padmanabha Bhat | Kepina Dabbi | Short stories | |
| 2019 | – | Fakeer | Beru | Novel | |
| 2020 | K. S. Mahadevaswamy | Dhoopada Makkalu | Short | [21] | |
| 2021 | – | Basu Bevinagida | Odi Hoda Huduga | Short | |
| Year | Image | Recipient(s) | Work(s) | Genre | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Bolwar Mahammad Kunhi | Paapu Gandhi: Gandhi Baapu Aada Kathe | Novellette | ||
| 2011 | Na D'Souza | Mulugade Oorige Bandavaru | Novellette | ||
| 2012 | – | Palakala Seetharam Bhat | Total Contribution to Children's Literature | - | |
| 2013 | H. S. Venkateshamurthy | Total Contribution to Children's Literature | - | ||
| 2014 | Anand V. Patil | Total Contribution to Children's Literature | - | ||
| 2015 | T. S. Nagaraja Shetty | Total Contribution to Children's Literature | - | ||
| 2016 | Sumatheendra R. Nadig | Total Contribution to Children's Literature | - | ||
| 2017 | N. S. Lakshminarayan Bhat | Total Contribution to Children's Literature | - | ||
| 2018 | Kanchyani Sharanappa Shivasangappa | Total Contribution to Children's Literature | - | [22] | |
| 2019 | Chandrakant Karadalli | Kadu Kanasina Beedige | Novel | ||
| 2020 | H. S. Byakoda | Nanoo Ambedkar | Novel | [23] | |
| 2021 | L Lakshmi Narayana Swamy | thogala cheelada karna(ತೊಗಲ ಚೀಲದ ಕರ್ಣ) | Poetry | ||
| 2024 | Krishnamurthy Biligere | ಛೂಮಂತ್ರಯ್ಯನ ಕಥೆಗಳು (Choomantrayyana Kathegalu) | Short Stories |