Mandra

Mandra, the Saraswati Samman winner for 2010, is one of the most acclaimed epic novels of Bhyrappa. Though it takes its theme from the classical question of art versus morality, many more subtler and complex issues haunting human life are marvelously interwoven. Rooted deeply in the harsh realities of the world, the governing theme evolves like a banyan tree in all directions and pictures many home-truths that are inseparable with art, artist, art-tradition, art-criticism and the world of connoisseurs.

S.L. Bhyrappa

Dr. S.L. Bhyrappa is widely regarded as the greatest living novelist in Kannada. In a literary career spanning over fifty years he has authored twenty-two novels, which have been translated into most of the major Indian languages, including Urdu. His works have run into numerous reprints and have been the subject of numerous scholarly studies, as well as heated public debates. Of his books, Daatuwon the Sahitya Academy award while Mandrawon him the prestigious Saraswati Samman. He lives in Mysore.