Jayant Kaikini is a poet, short story writer, playwright, columnist in Kannada and a lyricist in Kannada cinema. He has so far published six anthologies of short stories, four books of poetry, three plays and a collection of essays. He is valued as one of the best writers in Kannada literature and has revolutionized the field by giving it a fresh new perspective. He has bagged many notable awards like 'Karnataka Sahitya Academy' award, Kusumagraj Award, Katha Award, DSC Prize for South Asian Literature amidst others. Kaikini is regarded as one of the most significant writers in Kannada today. Kaikini has been conferred the honorary doctorate from Tumkur University.

Chigurida Kanasu is a 2003 Indian Kannada-language film directed by T. S. Nagabharana and starring Shiva Rajkumar, Anant Nag, Vidhya Venkatesh, Rekha Unnikrishnan and Avinash. It is based on the 1951 novel of the same name by legendary Kannada litterateur and Jnanpith Award winner K. Shivaram Karanth. The movie was considered one of finest movies in the history of Kannada cinema. It is a milestone movie in the career of Shiva Rajkumar. Jayant Kaikini debuted as a lyricist, with his first song Bandhuve sung by the legendary Dr. Rajkumar. Kaikini would go on to become a very successful and popular lyricist in the Kannada film industry. The story and characterisation of the lead role - an urban youth in search of his roots giving up his city life and deciding to stay back in a remote village and setting up a micro hydroelectric project to generate electricity for the benefit of the villagers - went on to be used in the 2004 Hindi movie Swades.