On the eve of Kannada Rajyotsava, Naadu. Nudi. Haadu celebrates the creative voices that have shaped Karnataka’s imagination through story and song. Curated by Radio Azim Premji University, the evening highlights the culture and values that bind the people of Karnataka — humility, equality, and the joy of creation.

The event will begin with the launch of a new episode of Noorakke Nooru Karnataka, featuring T N Seetharam, who will offer his reflections on Karnataka’s culture and how it has influenced his work. This will be followed by the launch of the music album ​‘Kayakave Kailasa’ by M D Pallavi and Bruce Lee Mani. Their performance reinterprets the vachanas of the 12^th-century Sharanas through modern sound and sensibility. 

The event aims to start a conversation about Karnataka’s past and present, revealing how Kannada identity is shaped by new expressions in music and popular culture. 

Hosted by IHA in collaboration with Azim Premji University

Exhibition: Celebrating the Vachana Writers

This exhibition is a tribute to the luminous spirit of the Vachana movement — a movement that transformed everyday language into poetry, and poetry into a way of life. It celebrates the lives and literary legacies of 45 Vachanakaaras from Karnataka, including Allama Prabhu, Basavanna, Akkamahadevi, Soole Sankavva, and many others whose voices shaped the moral and spiritual fabric of their times.

Each poster unfolds the journey of these remarkable poets — their lives before asceticism, their social roots, and the depth of their poetic contribution. Their words, born out of devotion and rebellion, continue to speak of equality, compassion, and truth.

The visual soul of this exhibition lies in the exquisite line drawings by artist C B Somashetty. His minimal, contemplative strokes capture the essence of each Vachanakara with quiet dignity. Each poster pairs one of his drawings with a selected Vachana, allowing image and verse to meet — as if the poet’s spirit finds its echo in art once more.

Presented in both Kannada and English, the posters create a bridge between time, language, and sensibility — inviting the viewer to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the timeless wisdom of the Vachanas.