Chandrashekhara Basavanneppa Kambara (Kannada: ಚಂದ್ರಶೇಖರ ಕಂಬಾರ; born 2 January 1937) is a prominent Indian poet, playwright, folklorist, and film director in the Kannada language. He is also the founder-vice-chancellor of Kannada University in Hampi and has served as the president of the Sahitya Akademi, the country's premier literary institution, following Vinayak Krishna Gokak (1983) and U.R. Ananthamurthy (1993). Kambara is known for effectively adapting the North Karnataka dialect of the Kannada language in his plays and poems, similar to the works of D.R. Bendre. His plays often revolve around folk or mythological themes interconnected with contemporary issues, integrating modern lifestyle with hard-hitting poems. He has become a pioneer of such literature. His contribution as a playwright is significant not only to Kannada theatre but also to Indian theatre in general due to his blend of folk and modern theatrical forms. He has been honored with numerous prestigious awards, including the Padma Bhushan in 2021, Jnanpith Award in 2011 for the year 2010, Sahitya Akademi Award, the Padma Shri by the Government of India, Kabir Samman, Kalidas Samman, and Pampa Award. Following his retirement, Kambara was nominated as a Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council, through which he made significant contributions through his interventions.