Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa (; 29 December 1904 – 11 November 1994), popularly known by the pen name Kuvempu (ಕುವೆಂಪು) or by K. V. Puttappa, was a Kannada novelist, poet, playwright, critic and thinker. He is widely regarded as the greatest Kannada poet of the 20th century. He is the first among Kannada writers to be decorated with the prestigious Jnanpith Award.