Actor, dramatist, writer Damodar Shetty received his early education in his hometown of Kumble in the Kasaragod district of Kerala. Then M.A. from the University of Mysore. Under the guidance of Srinivasa Havanur, he presented his thesis on ‘Muddannana Shabda Pratibhe’ and got his Ph.D. from Mangalore University. He started his career as a professor of the Kannada Department at St. Aloysius College, Mangalore in 1975 and retired in 2011 after a long service of 36 years. 

Interested in drama and the art of Yakshagana since childhood, he trained at the School of Drama in Thrissur, Kerala and later acted in several plays as an artiste in a community drama institute. In addition, he formed a theatre group called ‘Bhumika’ along with like-minded people, through which he performed several plays as an actor, playwright and director. 

Along with stage activities, he is also involved in writing and has written a column ‘Tenkanada Suligali’ for Prajavani newspaper. Among his major published works are ‘Suluvinolage’, ‘Saradi’ (novel), ‘K.N. Taylor’, ‘Muddana Baduku-Baraha’, ‘Narayanaguru’, ‘Pejavara Sadashivarayaru’, ‘K.V. Subbanna’ (Portrait), ‘Bhattada Kalugalu’, ‘Kariya Devara Huduki’, ‘Ashwaththama’, ‘Balyada Nenapugalu’, ‘Devara Vikaraalagalu’, ‘Sakshatkara’, ‘Mahakavi G. Sankara Kurup’, ‘Bharatavakya’ (translation) and ‘Adbhuta Ramayana’. 

He has worked as a member and chairman of Karnataka Nataka Academy, Karnataka Gazetteer, Karnataka Nataka Rangayana, and various Textbook Design Committees of Karnataka Government. 

 His work ‘Devara Vikaaragala’ has received many honours including Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award and Bhasha Bharati Sammana of the Indian Language Institute, the Honorary Award of Karnataka Drama Academy, Srirangaranga Award of Dubai, ‘Buddha Award’ of Rangotri, Nadachetana Award of Bangalore, Belle Upadhyaya Award of Udupi.