Dr. Hodigere Shanbhog Venkateshamurthy (born 23 June 1944), often referred to by his initials, HSV, is an Indian film song-story-dialogue writer, professor, essayist, playwright, novelist, children's literature, translator, critic and poet works in Kannada Literature and Kannada Cinema.

Murthy was born to Nagarathnamma and Narayana Bhatta in the remote village of Hodigere, Channagiri Taluk, Shimoga District.

After attending school in his native village, he studied in Holalkere followed by collegiate training at Chitradurga.

He completed his master's degree in Kannada at Central College Bangalore.

He received his Doctorate of Literature for his research on Kannadadalli Kathana Kavanagalu.