Actor and Film-maker Prakash Raj received the Kota Shivaram Karanth Huttura Prashasti.
- Notably, he is in the news because he mocked PM Modi over the murder of Journalist Gauri Lankesh who was close to Raj.
- Raj accepted the award amid protest and felt happy and honoured to receive it.
- The award was instituted by the Kotathattu Gram Panchayat in Udupi district.
- It is given in memory of the Jnanpith Award Winner late Dr. Kota Shivaram Karanth.
- It was first given in 2005 to former Union Petroleum Minister M. Veerappa Moily
