India, May 21 -- At a glittering ceremony held at London's Tate Modern on Tuesday night, translator Deepa Bhasthi shared the spotlight with author Banu Mushtaq as their work Hridaya Deepa (Heart Lamp) made history by becoming the first-ever Kannada title to win the prestigious £50,000 International Booker Prize.

In an emotional acceptance speech, Bhasthi paid tribute to the Kannada language by quoting an iconic line from a Kannada song. "Jenin holeyo, halin maleyo, sudheyo, Kannada savi nudio," which likens Kannada to a river of honey, a rain of milk, and sweet ambrosia.

(Also Read: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah lauds Banu Mushtaq's International Booker win)

The song, penned by lyricist C. Udayashankar and immortalised in the voice of...