If you are not a student of Kannada literature, but an avid reader and curious about the literary traditions, then the YouTube lecture series by noted writer, critic and translator Prof. H. S. Raghavendra Rao — “Nooru Mara, Nooru Svara” — is for you.
A weekly series, titled after a line from a D.R. Bendre’s poem, on Kathana Studio YouTube channel run by another noted academic Chandan Gowda, focuses on Kannada literature in the 20th century.
“If we consider the entire sweep of Kannada literature, barring the Vachana movement of the 12th Century, never have we seen so many writers, voices emerge in Kannada literature at once other than the 20th century. It is definitely a watershed moment. Before that writers who stand the test of time are few and far between over several centuries,” Prof. Rao explained on why he chose to focus on this period for the lecture series.
Without jargon
“I have tried to avoid the jargon of literary criticism as much as possible as I am addressing common readers, to introduce them, to give them an overview of the Kannada literary scene in the 20th century. I have altered my style to fit this particular medium of video,” Prof. Rao said.
The series that started with a lecture that gave an overview of Kannada literature in the 20th Century later progressed to lectures on the Navodaya (romantic) movement and later episodes on key writers like Kuvempu, D.R. Bendre, Shivaram Karanth, Masti Venkatesh Iyengar, before it jumped to the Navya (modernist) movement. The series presently features lectures on key Navya writers.
Prof. Rao said the series will further feature lectures on Literature and social change, that will deal with Pragatisheela (progressive), Dalita, Bandaya and women literature movements that sought to bring about social change through writing.
Chandan Gowda, who recorded these lectures and featured them on the Kathana Studio YouTube Channel he runs, said that the series was essentially planned to make serious discussions in Kannada available to viewers, to promote love towards Kannada literature. He further said that in times of intense ideological polarisation young writers and readers were being pushed to see literature in these terms, even as the definition of what is political was being narrowed down.
“In such a scenario, the lecture series was planned to sustain an oasis of calm reflection in the middle of so much noise, to help create a careful sense for tradition, to pass on fine reflections to the future generations,” he said.
Future series
Enthused by the deep engagement of the audience to Prof. Rao’s lecture series, Kathana Studio has already planned two more series by Prof. Hampa Nagarajaiah and poet H. S. Shivaprakash. “We have already shot Hampana’s series of nine lectures and are being edited now. They are an excellent introduction to Kannada literature starting from Pampa,” he said.
Published – October 31, 2025 10:41 pm IST
