Kulakunda Shiva Rao (15 June 1924 – 13 March 1992), popularly known as Niranjana, was a Kannada playwright, novelist and a freedom fighter.

He also edited Kannada translation of Vishwa Katha Kosha (A Treasury of World Short Stories).

[3] Niranjana was attracted to Marxism during his youth and was an active member of the Communist Party of India.

[citation needed] He became disillusioned later and left it but still continued to raise his voice for the downtrodden and oppressed through his writings.

Chirasmarane is based on the historic Kayyur incident of the 1940s in Kasaragod district where peasants rose against local landlords.