Telugu drama
Encyclopedia
The Telugu drama or Telugu theatre (Drama
in the Telugu language
) is one of the most popular Art
forms in India. There are many social and mythological plays performed by many eminent artists and have enthralled the audience from time to time with their magnificent performance. One of the interesting feature is the dialogue delivery by the actors. Where as its visual language is not much familiar than that of any other regional theatres.
The interesting feature in Telugu theatre is the main roles are casted by two persons and named as "okatava (first)" "rendo (the second)", for example okatava krishnudu (first krishna), rendava krishnudu (second krishna). Most of the performances start at late nights and will continue till early mornings.
The other most important feature in the Telugu theatre is "Parishid Play". These Parishid plays have taken place for the improvements in Telugu theatre and leads to a realistic movement rather than the normal epic stories happened before that time. It is also consider that there were more than 66 parishids are which has started from different places in Andhra Pradesh. Parishid history started from 1929 and it served merely as platform of at which established actors, dramatists, and patrons met for an annual festival. Popular plays were performed and useful lectures on important topics of theatre art delivered. The parishid also established a realistic movement of Telugu theatre. As against the existing tradition of musical plays i.e. padya natakam, it pleaded for socially relevant theatre. To achieve this, it held annual competitions regarded as a touch stone of artistic excellence, insisting that only social or one-act drama within the previous five years was eligible to participate and that women should enact female roles. The time factor of 1hr is also another important factor in these parishid plays.
" Prasna" a play directed by Murali Basa at University of Hyderabad, written by Gollapudi Maruthi Rao
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
in the Telugu language
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
) is one of the most popular Art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
forms in India. There are many social and mythological plays performed by many eminent artists and have enthralled the audience from time to time with their magnificent performance. One of the interesting feature is the dialogue delivery by the actors. Where as its visual language is not much familiar than that of any other regional theatres.
Varieties
- Padya Natakam: As it is started from the Padya Natakam, The people of Telugu Theatre used to render the poems for a long time. Plays like 'Satya Harischandra', 'Kurukshetram', 'Gayopaakyanam' are the well known plays. poems like "chelliyo chellako". " Bava eppudu vachiteevo" are used to render by the every common man in every part of the village. The actors used to sing these many more times.
The interesting feature in Telugu theatre is the main roles are casted by two persons and named as "okatava (first)" "rendo (the second)", for example okatava krishnudu (first krishna), rendava krishnudu (second krishna). Most of the performances start at late nights and will continue till early mornings.
- Gadya Natakam: After staging the play vyvahara Dharma Bhodhini of veereselingam in 1890, the scenario of Telugu theatre has changed. Most of the writers have been started writings on the socio economical problems raised in the society. They have also written political satires. The comedy play like 'Chintamani" is an all time favorite of Andhra people.
The other most important feature in the Telugu theatre is "Parishid Play". These Parishid plays have taken place for the improvements in Telugu theatre and leads to a realistic movement rather than the normal epic stories happened before that time. It is also consider that there were more than 66 parishids are which has started from different places in Andhra Pradesh. Parishid history started from 1929 and it served merely as platform of at which established actors, dramatists, and patrons met for an annual festival. Popular plays were performed and useful lectures on important topics of theatre art delivered. The parishid also established a realistic movement of Telugu theatre. As against the existing tradition of musical plays i.e. padya natakam, it pleaded for socially relevant theatre. To achieve this, it held annual competitions regarded as a touch stone of artistic excellence, insisting that only social or one-act drama within the previous five years was eligible to participate and that women should enact female roles. The time factor of 1hr is also another important factor in these parishid plays.
" Prasna" a play directed by Murali Basa at University of Hyderabad, written by Gollapudi Maruthi Rao
Popular Plays
- Bhuvana Vijayam
- Bobbili or Bobbili Yudham by Vedam Venkataraya SastryVedam Venkataraya SastryVedam Venkataraya Sastry B.A. was a Sanskrit and Telugu poet, critic and dramatist. He is respected for providing authoritative editions of Sanskrit and Telugu classics.-Life sketch:...
- Chintamani
- GayopakhyanamGayopakhyanamGayopakhyanam is a Telugu play written by Chilakamarthi Lakshmi Narasimham in 1890. It is also called Prachanda Yadavam . This play is the forerunner in presenting fictional themes in the Hindu Epics...
by Chilakamarthi Lakshmi NarasimhamChilakamarthi Lakshmi NarasimhamChilakamarthi Lakshmi Narasimham was an Indian playwright, novelist and author of short stories, who wrote in the Telugu language. He was a romantic and a social reformer in the tradition founded by Veeresalingam... - KanyasulkamKanyasulkamKanyasulkam is a Telugu play written by Gurazada Apparao in 1892. It is one of the earliest modern works in an Indian vernacular language, and it is the first Telugu play to deal with social issues...
by Gurazada Appa Rao - Raktha KanneeruRaktha KanneeruRakta Kanneeru is a popular stage drama and film initially made in Tamil in the year 1953 & again remade in Kannada and Telugu in the year 2003,directed by Sadhu Kokila starring the Kannada Superstar Upendra & Ramya Krishna in lead roles. The 2003 kannada feature film starring Superstar Upendra...
- SarangadharaSarangadhara-1930 film:Sarangadhara is a 1930 silent film directed by Y. V. Rao under the General Pictures Corporation.-1935 Tamil film:Sarangadhara is a 1935 Tamil film directed by V. S. K. Padham under the Lotus Pictures, filmed at Wadia Movietone Studios in Bombay. Starred by Kothamangalam Cheenu and T....
by Gurazada Appa Rao - Satya Harishchandra by Balijepalli LakshmikanthamBalijepalli LakshmikanthamBalijepalli Lakshmikantham or Lakshmikantha Kavi actor, poet, dramatist and freedom fighter. He is remembered for the masterpiece Harischandra written in 1924, which is popular even today and has been played by many drama troupes...
- Sri Krishna RayabaramSri Krishna RayabaramSri Krishna Rayabaram is a popular Telugu drama written by Tirupati Venkata Kavulu in the early 20th century. It was made as a Telugu film in 1960. Many actors and companies have staged this production throughout Andhra Pradesh, India, and abroad.-The plot:The plot is based on the story of...
by Tirupati Venkata KavuluTirupati Venkata KavuluTirupati Venkata Kavulu refers to the Telugu poet duo Divakarla Tirupati Sastry and Chellapilla Venkata Sastry . This twin poets are acclaimed as harbingers of modern poetry in Telugu. They have dramatized several of the Hindu epics into dramas and plays consisting of singable verses set to... - Tenali Ramakrishna by C. K. Venkataramaiah
- Vara VikrayamVara VikrayamVara Vikrayam is a 1939 Telugu Drama film directed by Chittajallu Pullayya. The film is a reformist social film about the Dowry system prevalent in British India...
by Kallakoori Narayana Rao
Major Contributors
- AathreyaAathreyaAacharya Aathreya born Kilambi Venkata Narasimhacharyulu was a versatile playwright, lyric writer and story writer in Telugu cinema.-Life:...
, playwright - Balijepalli LakshmikanthamBalijepalli LakshmikanthamBalijepalli Lakshmikantham or Lakshmikantha Kavi actor, poet, dramatist and freedom fighter. He is remembered for the masterpiece Harischandra written in 1924, which is popular even today and has been played by many drama troupes...
, playwright and actor - Banda Kanakalingeshwara RaoBanda Kanakalingeshwara RaoBanda Kanakalingeshwara Rao B.L. was famous Telugu drama and film actor.-Life sketch:...
, actor - Chilakamarthi Lakshmi NarasimhamChilakamarthi Lakshmi NarasimhamChilakamarthi Lakshmi Narasimham was an Indian playwright, novelist and author of short stories, who wrote in the Telugu language. He was a romantic and a social reformer in the tradition founded by Veeresalingam...
, playwright - Gurazada Appa Rao, playwright
- Gollapudi Maruthi RaoGollapudi Maruthi RaoGollapudi Maruthi Rao is a mathematical physicist turned editor, writer , dramatist, cine actor, TV anchor, and journalist who is well known for his many contributions to Telugu literature and culture...
,playwright, actor - Mudigonda LingamurthyMudigonda LingamurthyMudigonda Lingamurthy, shortly Lingamurthy is a famous Character actor in Telugu drama and cinema and writer in South India.,-Life sketch:...
, actor - Peesapati Narasimha MurtyPeesapati Narasimha MurtyPeesapati Narasimha Murty was an eminent Telugu stage actor.He was born in a Vantaram village near Balijipeta, Vizianagaram district in 1920...
- Pendyala Nageswara RaoPendyala Nageswara RaoPendyala Nageswara Rao was a popular drama actor, singer and music director in Telugu Film Industry for over 25 years from early 1950s to late 1970s. He has composed music for many successful Telugu movies during that period.-Early life:He was born at Vanukuru near Vijayawada and later shifted to...
, actor, singer and music director - Puvvula Suri BabuPuvvula Suri BabuP. Suri Babu or Puvvula Suri Babu was an Indian actor and singer on stage and cinema. He had a peculiar bold voice and was called Kanchu Kantham Suri Babu.-Early life:...
, actor and singer - RushyendramaniRushyendramaniRushyendramani was a famous drama and film actress and playback singer from South India...
, actress - Sthanam Narasimha RaoSthanam Narasimha RaoSthanam Narasimha Rao popularly known as Sthanam was a celebrated Telugu theatre and film actor. He was well known for playing stunning female characters and was a recipient of a Padma Sri Award.-Life sketch:He was born in 1902 at Bapatla of Guntur district to Hanumantha Rao and Ademma...
, actor - Surabhi KamalabaiSurabhi KamalabaiSurabhi Kamalabai is a Telugu drama and film actress. She has the distinction of first Telugu heroine in the Talky film Bhakta Prahlada directed by H. M. Reddy. She played the role of Leelavathi, the wife of Hiranyakasipa...
, actress - T. KanakamT. KanakamT. Kanakam shortly Kanakam is a famous Telugu drama and film actress and singer of 1940s to 1960s. She acted some of the topmost hit films of that period....
, actress and singer - Tanikella BharaniTanikella BharaniTanikella Bharani is a critically acclaimed, multi-faceted actor from Tollywood and a writer. He is a playwrighter, a dialogue writer, screen writer, poet, magazine editor, an actor and a director...
, Playwright, actor - Tirupati Venkata KavuluTirupati Venkata KavuluTirupati Venkata Kavulu refers to the Telugu poet duo Divakarla Tirupati Sastry and Chellapilla Venkata Sastry . This twin poets are acclaimed as harbingers of modern poetry in Telugu. They have dramatized several of the Hindu epics into dramas and plays consisting of singable verses set to...
, playwright - Vedam Venkataraya SastryVedam Venkataraya SastryVedam Venkataraya Sastry B.A. was a Sanskrit and Telugu poet, critic and dramatist. He is respected for providing authoritative editions of Sanskrit and Telugu classics.-Life sketch:...
, playwright - Yadavalli SuryanarayanaYadavalli SuryanarayanaYadavalli Suryanarayana was an eminent Theater and Cinema Actor. He has contributed richly to the Telugu theatre for over three decades....
, actor