Kannada Artists

Karnataka Artists

Chitraloka Star Profiles

The arts of Karnataka

The Hindustani singers Bhimsen Joshi, Gangubai Hangal and Mallikarjun Mansur came from north Karnataka, Purandara Dasa is called the father of Carnatic music, and Yakshagana is the night-long dance-drama of its coast. Kannada cinema is based in Bengaluru; its best-loved star, Dr Rajkumar, received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest film honour, in 1995.

India's national academies keep the record of its artists: the Sangeet Natak Akademi (music, dance and drama) and the Lalit Kala Akademi (painting and sculpture) give yearly awards and fellowships, and the Padma Awards site lists every Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan by state and field.

Sources: Sangeet Natak Akademi; Lalit Kala Akademi; Padma Awards, Ministry of Home Affairs.