Aarudra
Arudra was an Indian author, poet, lyricist, translator, publisher, dramatist, playwright, and an expert on Telugu literature. He is also known for his works in Telugu cinema as a lyricist, dialogue writer, and story writer. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1987.
Early life
Aarudra was born in Yelamanchili, Anakapalli district, Andhra Pradesh, India on 31 August 1925. Aarudra is the nephew of Telugu poet Sri Sri. After primary education, he shifted to Vizianagaram in 1942 for his college education. He was attracted to communism after coming into contact with people like Ronanki Appalaswami and Chaganti Somayajulu.He joined the Indian Air Force as a Band Boy in 1943 and served it till 1947. He shifted to Madras and worked as editor of Anandavani magazine for two years. Joining the film industry in 1949, he wrote lyrics and dialogues for many films. He married noted writer K. Rama Lakshmi in 1954.
Literary works
Tvamevaham and Samagra Andhra Sahityam are his landmark works. He wrote poetry such as Koonalamma Padaalu, reminiscences of the Second World War. He translated the Tamil treatise Tirukkural into Telugu. He belonged to the school of progressive writers such as Abhyudaya Rachayitala Sangham.Tvamevaham
Tvamevaaham written in 1948 was based on the contemporary violence and lawlessness during the Razakar movement in the princely state of Hyderabad. The Razakar attrocoties were sponsored by the Nizam against his own people who wanted to overthrow him in favor of democracy and join the Indian Union. In this kaavyam, death spoke to a human being and says, "you and I are the same ".The Samagra Andhra Sahityam
Arudra first published the SAS in 12 parts between 1965 and 1968. It spans the Telugu literature from the 9th century CE to modern times. He chronicled the history of Telugu Literature in 12 volumes:- Early and Chalukya Era
- Kakatiya dynasty
- Padmanayaka Era
- Reddiraju Era
- Early Rayala
- Later Rayala
- Nawabs
- Nayaka Kings
- Later Nayaka Kings
- East India Company
- Zamindari
- Modern
How is Sita related to Rama?
The book explores the Buddhist and Jain sources of the story of Rama. It also surveys the Khotan Siam, Laos, and Malaysian versions of the story of Rama. Here is a sampling from the 'Dasaratha Jataka ', a Buddhist Tale:
Buddha narrates the 'Dasaratha Jataka' tale to a householder who was grieving the death of his son....Long long ago.. Dasaratha was the king of Varanasi. He had sixteen thousand wives.The Queen had two sons and a daughter.The eldest son was called Ramapundit and the younger one was called Laxmanpundit. The daughter was called Sitadevi. The Queen dies after sometime. Dasaratha marries again, and comes to like her the most. She begets a son named Bharata...When Ramapundit returns from the forest, he marries Sita and rules for 16000 years...Bodhisatta concludes the story stating that Dasaratha was none other than Shuddhodana in an earlier reincarnation. Similarly, Sita was none other than Rahulmata and Ramapundit was none other than Buddha himself.Aarudra's questions like "How is Sita related to Rama?" or "Were they just Husband and wife?" may sound naive or sacrilegious but a serious study of genealogies, as revealed from different sources, logically leads to them. To deny the existence of such stories, per Arudra, would have amounted to intellectual dishonesty.
List of his works
- Poems : Tvamevaaham, Sinivaali, koonalamma Padaalu, Intinti Pajyaalu. America Intinti pajyaalu, sitakoka chilukalu
- Lyrics: Gaayaalu-Geyaalu, Pailaapacceesu, Yencina Padyaalu, Yetikedadi, Kondagaali Tirigindi.
- Translations: Veera Telangaana Viplava Geetalu, Vennela-Vesavi, Kabeer Bhaavaalu and Batvaada-Arudra.
- Dramas: Udgeedha, Geyanaatika, Raadaari Bangla, Saalabhanjikalu.
- Dual Poetry: Rukkuteswara Satakam, Meemee
- Research Work: Samagraandhra Saahityam, Arudra Vyaasapeetham, Raamudi ki Seeta Yemavutundi?,
- Other works: Arudra kathalu, Mahaneeyulu, Chadarangam, cinema scripts and lyrics.
Filmography
- Beedala Patlu
- Kanna Talli
- Pakka Inti Ammayi
- Veera Kankanam
- Chenchu Lakshmi
- Illarikam
- Jayabheri
- Aradhana
- Bhishma
- Dakshayagnam
- Manchi Kutumbam
- Gudachari 116
- Farz
- The Train - Hindi
- Mosagallaku Mosagadu
- Andala Ramudu
- Muthyala Muggu
- Yashoda Krishna
- Mahakavi Kshetrayya
- Daana Veera Soora Karna
- Mallepoovu
- Anugraham
- Kondura
- Thoorpu Velle Railu
- Pelli Pusthakam
- ''Mr. Pellam''
Film songs
| Year | Film title | Popular song/s |
| 1965 | Manchi Kutumbam | Manase Andhala Brundhavanam Preminchuta Pillala Vantu |
| 1965 | Pandava Vanavasam | Baavaa Baavaa Panneeru |
| 1965 | Preminchi Choodu | Mee Andala Chetulu Kandenu Papam |
| 1965 | Veerabhimanyu | Adigo Navalokam Velase Manakosam Rambha Urvasi Taladanne |
| 1965 | Zamindar | Chukkalu Podiche VelaNene Nene Letha |
| 1966 | Antastulu | Vinara Vissanna Ne Vedam Cheputa |
| 1967 | Bhakta Prahlada | Siri Siri Laali Chinnari Laali |
| 1967 | Gudachari 116 | Manasuteera Navvule Navvule Navvali |
| 1967 | Sakshi | Amma Kadupu Challaga |
| 1968 | Bandipotu Dongalu | Gandara Ganda Soggadivanta |
| 1968 | Ramu | Pachani Chettu Okati |
| 1970 | Akka Chellelu | Chakachakalade Paduchundi |
| 1972 | Iddaru Ammayilu | Oho Mister Brahmachari |
| 1978 | Mana Voori Pandavulu | Orey Pichchi Sannasi Pandavulu Pandavulu Thummeda |
| 1978 | Vayasu Pilichindi | Muthyamalle Merisipoye Mallemogga Nuvvadigindi Enaadaina Kaadhannaana |
| 1991 | Pelli Pustakam | Srirastu Subhamastu |
| 1993 | Mister Pellam | Adagavayya Ayyagari |