Double win for Kannadiga women: Sudha Murthy on Banu Mushtaq winning Booker Prize
Writer, activist and lawyer Mushtaq's short story collection 'Hridaya Deepa' (Heart Lamp) on Tuesday night became the first Kannada title to win the coveted GBP 50,000 International Booker Prize in London.
'I feel extremely happy. As an Indian, I am happy. As a Kannada person, I am very happy. As an author I am very happy. And as a woman, I am even more happy. She is a great writer and this is a great beginning. Let many people like her get the Booker Prize in different languages,' Murthy told PTI Videos.
'Heart Lamp', translated by Deepa Bhasthi, was described as 'a radical translation' that reshaped language and offered 'new textures in a plurality of Englishes' by the jury of The Booker Prize.
Hailing from Hassan district of Karnataka, Mushtaq often said in interviews that she wrote to challenge chauvinistic religious interpretations of societal rules.
Meanwhile, Karnataka's heartthrob, actor Namma Shivanna, aka Shiva Rajkumar, took to 'X' to convey his 'heartfelt congratulations'.
'Your achievement of introducing Kannada literature on a global scale and attracting the attention of the world is a great contribution to Kannada literature and cultural heritage. I hope that this honor will further strengthen the world of Kannada literature,' said Shivanna.
Activist and actor Chetan Kumar Ahimsa, one of the key figures in pushing for equality and safety of women involved in the Kannada Film Industry, also posted his message for the author on 'X', noting that this recognition is a source of pride for Kannada and Karnataka.
During her acceptance speech, Bhasthi paid tribute to the Kannada language by quoting an iconic line from a Kannada song, made immortal by Kannada film legend Dr Rajkumar. 'Jenin holeyo, halin maleyo, sudheyo, Kannada savi nudio', she said drawing a parallel between Kannada and a river of honey, a rain of milk, and sweet ambrosia.
'What a win this is for my beautiful language,' Bhasthi added.
Not just Bhasthi, but Mushtaq's win–which comes 15 years after Aravind Adiga, another Kannadiga who won the Booker Prize for his 'White Tiger' in 2008–has made most Kannadigas beam with pride.
Many also felt that this is not just a win for Kannada literature, but for every Indian language writer dreaming of global recognition. PTI
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Aamir Khan On Getting Teary-Eyed Every Time He Watches Sitaare Zameen Par: "I Do Get Emotional Very Soon"
New Delhi: Aamir Khan's Sitaare Zameen Par, which released in theatres on June 20, 2025, has struck a chord with the audience. As of today, the sports comedy has crossed Rs 130.40 crore at the domestic box office. In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, Aamir Khan expressed his joy about the overwhelming response and more. What's Happening Sitaare Zameen Par, the spiritual sequel to Aamir Khan's 2007 film Taare Zameen Par, has been embraced with open arms by the Indian audience. Expressing the happiness he feels about the film's acceptance, Aamir Khan told NDTV, "I am thrilled with the response. Itne khush cheezein dikh rahe hai. The film is touching a deep chord with people, and that is making me and the entire team very happy." Earlier today, a special screening was also organised by Amruta Devendra Fadnavis, a social activist and wife of the current Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis. It was conducted on behalf of the Divyaj Foundation for differently-abled students in Mumbai. Expressing his gratitude, Aamir Khan said, "Today Devendra ji and CM's wife Amruta ji were very keen to organise a screening and I was very keen to show it to them, so she said let's see it with children with such challenges. She organised this screening for all these children from various schools, and it was lovely to see all of them." "I do get emotional very soon," he concluded when asked about getting teary-eyed every time he sees the film. Plot Directed by RS Prasanna, the film takes a unique approach to inspire audiences through themes of neurodiversity and celebrates the potential of individuals with learning disabilities. The story revolves around a suspended basketball coach (played by Aamir) who serves community service by training a team of neurodivergent players. Gradually, as the film's plotline progresses, a shift in the lead star's on-screen character can be witnessed. In A Nutshell Aamir Khan shared the joy he feels to see Sitaare Zameen Par doing so well and being loved by the audience, especially kids. He spoke about how he, along with his team, is thrilled with the outcome.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
I'm not a ‘female director'; I am just a director, and that's that, says Bobby CR
Bobby CR, who is set to make her directorial debut with the upcoming Just Married, speaks to us about her experience of directing a film, the challenges and requirements of the Kannada industry, and more. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Excerpts: 'ACTORS ONLY LIVE THEIR CHARACTER; A DIRECTOR LIVES AS EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER' 'This is my directorial debut, but I have never faced an issue based on the fact that I am a female director. I am not someone to thinks I am a female director. I am a director, that's that. Sure, we might need to take a break from work once a month, but that doesn't mean we are not dedicated to our craft,' she says. Reflecting on the demands of filmmaking, Bobby emphasises that directing is an all-encompassing role that extends far beyond the actors on screen. 'Actors only live their character; a director lives as every single character. There is a lot of work behind the scenes that goes into releasing a movie. Just one word – 'good', 'bad' or 'okay' – defines a movie's outcome, but that doesn't fairly represent the efforts of everyone who worked off-screen,' she explains. 'Just Married will appeal to Gen-Zs' Bobby's upcoming film Just Married is about individuals grappling with real-life connections in a technology-driven world. 'Today, people are so hooked to technology that they aren't adept at navigating real life. What happens when they have no choice but to get married? What will their journey together look like? It's like trying to make sense out of confusion, something a lot of people, especially Gen Z, can relate to,' she explains.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Respect comes with talent, not language, says Pramod
Kannada actor Pramod has signed his second Telugu film, titled Lenin. The film, directed by Murali Kishore, also stars Akhil Akkineni . 'It feels surreal when our work gets recognised in a neighbouring film industry. The team wanted me to portray a character that's on par with the lead role,' he says. 'In Telugu cinema, artistes with real talent are given immense respect, regardless of where they are from. I don't see too much of a challenge when it comes to acting in films in another language, as cinema itself is a universal language. With audiences exposed to pan-India films, they're now open to seeing actors from other industries on their screens,' he explains. On the home front, Pramod believes that Kannada films need stronger production teams to support young talent and help the industry flourish. 'It's great that big films like KGF and Kantara got global attention, but small films with strong content are equally important for the growth of the film industry. When these films get support from major production houses, they can reach wider audiences — and that's one way of reclaiming our lost glory,' he shares.
