Telugu literature
Telugu literature is the literature of the Telugu people, an ethnic group based in southern India.
History :
Early history :
Telugu literature prior to Nannayya Bhattarakudu’s Andhra Mahabharatamu was not preserved, except royal grants and decrees. So, Nannayya is known as Aadi Kavi (the first poet). The advanced and well-developed language used by Nannayya suggests that this may not be the beginning of Telugu literature. Andhra Mahabharatamu was later furthered by Tikanna Somayaji (1205–1288), to be finally completed by Yerrapragada (fourteenth century). Nannaya, Tikanna and Yerrapragada are known as the Kavitraya or the three great poets of Telugu for this mammoth effort. Other such translations like Marana’s Markandeya Puranam, Ketana’s Dasakumara Charita, Yerrapragada’s Harivamsam followed.
It was almost the end of the eleventh century by the time the original Telugu literature came to exist. Some of the early landmarks are Srinathudu’s Sringara Naishadham, Potana’s Dasamaskandham, Jakkana’s Vikramarka Charitra and Talapaka Timmakka’s Subhadra Kalyanam. Literary activities flourished, during the rule of Vijayanagara dynasty. Krishnadevaraya’ s time (sixteenth century) is considered the golden age in the history of Telugu literature. The king, a poet himself, introduced the Prabandha (a kind of love poetry) in Telugu literature with his Amukta Malyada. His court had the Ashtadiggajas (literally "eight elephants") who were the known to be the greatest of poets of that time.
Some critics dismiss the following period, dominated by prabandhas, as a decadent age. Of the dozens of works of the eighteenth to mid nineteenth century, Kankanti Paparaju’s Uttara Ramayana in campu style and the play Vishnumayavilasa stand out. Other genres bloomed at the same time. Innumerable Yakshaganas or indigenous dramas of song and prose works were also produced. Tyagaraja (1767–1847) of Tanjore composed devotional songs in Telugu, which form a big part of the repertoire of Carnatic music.
Modern history :
Charles Philip Brown (1798-1884), was an employee of East India Company whose quest to understand the basic structure of Telugu language made him embark upon an exploration of Telugu literature. His pursuit is said to be the only present day source of the many classics in Telugu literature.
Although the first printed Telugu book was out in 1796, it was a while before the modern period in Telugu literature set in. Young men acquainted with English literature were influenced by Shelly, Keats and Wordsworth, and a new type of romantic poetry called the Bhavakavithwam was born.
Kandukuri Veeresalingam (1848-1919) wrote the first novel in Telugu, Rajashekharacharitramu. Next came the vyavaharika bhasha vadam or using colloquial language in script. Gurajada Apparao with his close associates such as Gidugu Rammurty were primarily responsible for the beginnings of this. His 1910 work Mutyala saralu along with Kattamanchi Ramalingareddy's musalamma maranam (1898), and Rayaprolu Subbarao’s Trunakankatam (1913) form the earliest works heralding a break with traditional poetry.
Various forms
Prabandham
Kavyam
padya kāvyam
gadya kāvyam
Kavitha
Śatakam
Avadhanam
Navala
Katha
Nātakam
Popular authors and works
Aarudhra (ఆరుద్ర) - Samagraandhra Saahithyamu (సమగ్రాంధ్ర సాహిత్యము) (The Complete Telugu Literature)
Abburi Varada Rajeswara Rao (1923-1993) - Varadakaalam
Adavi Baapiraaju - Gona Gannareddy, Naarayanarao, Thuphaanu (The storm)
Alakki Bhaskarudu - " Bhaskara Satakamu"
Ajanta - Penumarti Viswanatha Sastry (born 1922)
Allasani Peddana - Manu charithra (The History of Swarochisha Manu)
Atukuri Molla - Molla Ramayanam
Bammera Pothana - Bhagavatham
Buchchibabu - Chivaraku migiledi (What is Left at the End)
Balivada Kantha Rao-(1927-2000) - (Winner of the Kendriya Sahitya Academy Award)
C. Narayanareddy - Vishwambhara
BHAVASHRI(W.RAMA RAO)
Cha So (1915-1993)
Chaemakoori Venkatakavi Vijayavilaasamu
Chalam - Chithraangi, Maidhaanam, Saavithri
Chilakamarti Lakshmi Narasimham - Gayopaakhyaanam
Daasaradhi - Timiramu lo samaramu (Fighting in the darkness)
Devarakonda Balagangadhara Tilak - Tilak Kathalu; Amritam Kurisina Raatri
Dhurjati - Srikaalahasteesvara Satakam
Duvvoori Raamireddy - Paanasaala
Devulapalli Krishnasastri - Krishna pakshamu (The Brightening Fortnight)
Gadiyaaram Venkataseshasastri - Sivabhaaratham
Gonabuddhareddy - Ranganaatha Raamaayanamu
Gurajada Apparao - Kanyaasulkamu
Gurram Jashuva - Gabbilamu (The bat), Phiradousi
Kaethana - Dasakumaara charithra
Kaloji-"Naa Godava", "Idee Naa Godava"-autobiography
Kandukuri Veeresalingam - Andhrakavula Charithra (The history of Andhra Poets), Raajasekhara Charithra (The history of Rajasekhara)
Kasula Purushottama Kavi - Andhranayaka Satakamu
Kavitrayam (Nannayya, Tikkana, Yerrapragada) - Andhra Mahaabhaarathamu (The great Mahabharatha in Telugu)
Kethu Viswanathareddy - Kethu Viswanathareddy Kathalu
Ko Ku - Chaduvu
Kotikalapudi Seetamma - Ahalyabai, Sadhuraksha Satakamu, Bhaktimargamu, Satidharmamu
Koochimanchi Timmana - Rukmini parinayamu (Rukmini's wedding)
Korlapati Sriraamamurthy - Sreenaadhudu (The poet Srinadha)
Leelavati - Leelavati Ganithamu
Maarana - Maarkandaeya puraanamu
Muddupalani - Radhika Santvanamu
Mullapudi Venkata Ramana - Budugu
Ranganayakamma - Raamayana vishavŕksham
Nandoori Subbarao - Yenki paatalu
Nanne Choadudu - Kumaara Sambhavamu
Nidumolu Prasuna - Saaketa Saarvabhouma (Telugu translation of Tulasidasa Ramayana)
Palagummi Padmaraju - Bathikina collegee
Palkuriki Somanaathudu - Basava puraanamu
Panuganti Lakshmi Narasimham - Saakshi (The witness)
Paravasthu Chinnayasuri - Baalavyaakaranamu
Pingali Soorana - Kalaa poornodhayamu
Rachakonda Viswanathasastri - Alpajeevi (The miserable)
Ramaraaja Bhooshanudu - Vasu charithra
Rangajamma - Mannaru Dasavilasamau
Ravuri Bharadwaja - Paakudu raallu
Raayaprolu Subbarao - Jada kuchchulu, Ramyaaloakam
Sankaramanchi Satyam - Amaravati Kathalu (The stories from Amaravati)
Sri Krishna Deva Raya - Aamukta Maalyadha
Sri Siddappa Varakavi
Sripaada Subrahmanyasastri - Anubhavaalu J~naapakaalu
Sri Sri - Mahaaprasthaanamu
Sri K Sabha - "Vishwarupa Sandarsanam, Vedabhoomi, Mogili, Pathalaganga"
Srinatha - Haravilaasamu, Kaasikhandamu, Palnaati veeracharithra, Sŕngaara naishadhamu
Suravaram Pratapareddy - Aandhrula Saanghika Charithra
Tallapaka Annamacharya (1424?-1503) - Annamacharya keertanalu
Tallapaka Timmakka - Subhadrakalyanam
Tarigonda Venkamamba - Venkatachala Mahatmyamu, Vasista Ramamyanamu, Rajayogasaramu, Bhagavatamu, Krishnamanjari
Tenali Raamakrishna - Paanduranga maahaatmyamu
Thummala Seetaraamamoorthy - Baapu aathmakadha, Rashtra gaanamu
Tikkana - Nirvachanoththara Raamayanamu -
Timmana - Paarijaathaapaharanamu
Tirupati Venkata Kavulu - Paandavodyoga vijayamulu, Devi bhaagavatham
Tirumalamba - Varadambica parinayamu
Tripuranaeni Gopichand - Merupula Marakalu
Tripuraneni Ramaswamy Choudhury - Suthapuranamu,Karempudi kadanam,Kurukshetra sangramam,Kuppuswamy satakam, Sambhukavadha, Suthashrama geethalu', Dhoorta manava, Khooni, Bhagavadgita, Rana Pratap, Kondaveeti pathanam
Unnava Lakshminaarayana - Maala pilla
Viswanatha Satyanarayana - Cheliyalikatta, Kalpavrukshamu, Kinnerasaani Paatalu, Srimadraamaayana kalpavŕkshamu, Swargaaniki Nichchenalu, Vaeyipadagalu, Aekaveera
Vemana - Vemana Satakam
Yandamoori Veerendranath - Vennello aadapilla, Marana Mrudangam, Aanando Brahma, Tulasi dalam, Ashta Vakra, Prarthana
Yerrapragada - Harivansamu, Nrusimhapuranam, half of the aranya parva of MahaBharat
History :
Early history :
Telugu literature prior to Nannayya Bhattarakudu’s Andhra Mahabharatamu was not preserved, except royal grants and decrees. So, Nannayya is known as Aadi Kavi (the first poet). The advanced and well-developed language used by Nannayya suggests that this may not be the beginning of Telugu literature. Andhra Mahabharatamu was later furthered by Tikanna Somayaji (1205–1288), to be finally completed by Yerrapragada (fourteenth century). Nannaya, Tikanna and Yerrapragada are known as the Kavitraya or the three great poets of Telugu for this mammoth effort. Other such translations like Marana’s Markandeya Puranam, Ketana’s Dasakumara Charita, Yerrapragada’s Harivamsam followed.
It was almost the end of the eleventh century by the time the original Telugu literature came to exist. Some of the early landmarks are Srinathudu’s Sringara Naishadham, Potana’s Dasamaskandham, Jakkana’s Vikramarka Charitra and Talapaka Timmakka’s Subhadra Kalyanam. Literary activities flourished, during the rule of Vijayanagara dynasty. Krishnadevaraya’ s time (sixteenth century) is considered the golden age in the history of Telugu literature. The king, a poet himself, introduced the Prabandha (a kind of love poetry) in Telugu literature with his Amukta Malyada. His court had the Ashtadiggajas (literally "eight elephants") who were the known to be the greatest of poets of that time.
Some critics dismiss the following period, dominated by prabandhas, as a decadent age. Of the dozens of works of the eighteenth to mid nineteenth century, Kankanti Paparaju’s Uttara Ramayana in campu style and the play Vishnumayavilasa stand out. Other genres bloomed at the same time. Innumerable Yakshaganas or indigenous dramas of song and prose works were also produced. Tyagaraja (1767–1847) of Tanjore composed devotional songs in Telugu, which form a big part of the repertoire of Carnatic music.
Modern history :
Charles Philip Brown (1798-1884), was an employee of East India Company whose quest to understand the basic structure of Telugu language made him embark upon an exploration of Telugu literature. His pursuit is said to be the only present day source of the many classics in Telugu literature.
Although the first printed Telugu book was out in 1796, it was a while before the modern period in Telugu literature set in. Young men acquainted with English literature were influenced by Shelly, Keats and Wordsworth, and a new type of romantic poetry called the Bhavakavithwam was born.
Kandukuri Veeresalingam (1848-1919) wrote the first novel in Telugu, Rajashekharacharitramu. Next came the vyavaharika bhasha vadam or using colloquial language in script. Gurajada Apparao with his close associates such as Gidugu Rammurty were primarily responsible for the beginnings of this. His 1910 work Mutyala saralu along with Kattamanchi Ramalingareddy's musalamma maranam (1898), and Rayaprolu Subbarao’s Trunakankatam (1913) form the earliest works heralding a break with traditional poetry.
Various forms
Prabandham
Kavyam
padya kāvyam
gadya kāvyam
Kavitha
Śatakam
Avadhanam
Navala
Katha
Nātakam
Popular authors and works
Aarudhra (ఆరుద్ర) - Samagraandhra Saahithyamu (సమగ్రాంధ్ర సాహిత్యము) (The Complete Telugu Literature)
Abburi Varada Rajeswara Rao (1923-1993) - Varadakaalam
Adavi Baapiraaju - Gona Gannareddy, Naarayanarao, Thuphaanu (The storm)
Alakki Bhaskarudu - " Bhaskara Satakamu"
Ajanta - Penumarti Viswanatha Sastry (born 1922)
Allasani Peddana - Manu charithra (The History of Swarochisha Manu)
Atukuri Molla - Molla Ramayanam
Bammera Pothana - Bhagavatham
Buchchibabu - Chivaraku migiledi (What is Left at the End)
Balivada Kantha Rao-(1927-2000) - (Winner of the Kendriya Sahitya Academy Award)
C. Narayanareddy - Vishwambhara
BHAVASHRI(W.RAMA RAO)
Cha So (1915-1993)
Chaemakoori Venkatakavi Vijayavilaasamu
Chalam - Chithraangi, Maidhaanam, Saavithri
Chilakamarti Lakshmi Narasimham - Gayopaakhyaanam
Daasaradhi - Timiramu lo samaramu (Fighting in the darkness)
Devarakonda Balagangadhara Tilak - Tilak Kathalu; Amritam Kurisina Raatri
Dhurjati - Srikaalahasteesvara Satakam
Duvvoori Raamireddy - Paanasaala
Devulapalli Krishnasastri - Krishna pakshamu (The Brightening Fortnight)
Gadiyaaram Venkataseshasastri - Sivabhaaratham
Gonabuddhareddy - Ranganaatha Raamaayanamu
Gurajada Apparao - Kanyaasulkamu
Gurram Jashuva - Gabbilamu (The bat), Phiradousi
Kaethana - Dasakumaara charithra
Kaloji-"Naa Godava", "Idee Naa Godava"-autobiography
Kandukuri Veeresalingam - Andhrakavula Charithra (The history of Andhra Poets), Raajasekhara Charithra (The history of Rajasekhara)
Kasula Purushottama Kavi - Andhranayaka Satakamu
Kavitrayam (Nannayya, Tikkana, Yerrapragada) - Andhra Mahaabhaarathamu (The great Mahabharatha in Telugu)
Kethu Viswanathareddy - Kethu Viswanathareddy Kathalu
Ko Ku - Chaduvu
Kotikalapudi Seetamma - Ahalyabai, Sadhuraksha Satakamu, Bhaktimargamu, Satidharmamu
Koochimanchi Timmana - Rukmini parinayamu (Rukmini's wedding)
Korlapati Sriraamamurthy - Sreenaadhudu (The poet Srinadha)
Leelavati - Leelavati Ganithamu
Maarana - Maarkandaeya puraanamu
Muddupalani - Radhika Santvanamu
Mullapudi Venkata Ramana - Budugu
Ranganayakamma - Raamayana vishavŕksham
Nandoori Subbarao - Yenki paatalu
Nanne Choadudu - Kumaara Sambhavamu
Nidumolu Prasuna - Saaketa Saarvabhouma (Telugu translation of Tulasidasa Ramayana)
Palagummi Padmaraju - Bathikina collegee
Palkuriki Somanaathudu - Basava puraanamu
Panuganti Lakshmi Narasimham - Saakshi (The witness)
Paravasthu Chinnayasuri - Baalavyaakaranamu
Pingali Soorana - Kalaa poornodhayamu
Rachakonda Viswanathasastri - Alpajeevi (The miserable)
Ramaraaja Bhooshanudu - Vasu charithra
Rangajamma - Mannaru Dasavilasamau
Ravuri Bharadwaja - Paakudu raallu
Raayaprolu Subbarao - Jada kuchchulu, Ramyaaloakam
Sankaramanchi Satyam - Amaravati Kathalu (The stories from Amaravati)
Sri Krishna Deva Raya - Aamukta Maalyadha
Sri Siddappa Varakavi
Sripaada Subrahmanyasastri - Anubhavaalu J~naapakaalu
Sri Sri - Mahaaprasthaanamu
Sri K Sabha - "Vishwarupa Sandarsanam, Vedabhoomi, Mogili, Pathalaganga"
Srinatha - Haravilaasamu, Kaasikhandamu, Palnaati veeracharithra, Sŕngaara naishadhamu
Suravaram Pratapareddy - Aandhrula Saanghika Charithra
Tallapaka Annamacharya (1424?-1503) - Annamacharya keertanalu
Tallapaka Timmakka - Subhadrakalyanam
Tarigonda Venkamamba - Venkatachala Mahatmyamu, Vasista Ramamyanamu, Rajayogasaramu, Bhagavatamu, Krishnamanjari
Tenali Raamakrishna - Paanduranga maahaatmyamu
Thummala Seetaraamamoorthy - Baapu aathmakadha, Rashtra gaanamu
Tikkana - Nirvachanoththara Raamayanamu -
Timmana - Paarijaathaapaharanamu
Tirupati Venkata Kavulu - Paandavodyoga vijayamulu, Devi bhaagavatham
Tirumalamba - Varadambica parinayamu
Tripuranaeni Gopichand - Merupula Marakalu
Tripuraneni Ramaswamy Choudhury - Suthapuranamu,Karempudi kadanam,Kurukshetra sangramam,Kuppuswamy satakam, Sambhukavadha, Suthashrama geethalu', Dhoorta manava, Khooni, Bhagavadgita, Rana Pratap, Kondaveeti pathanam
Unnava Lakshminaarayana - Maala pilla
Viswanatha Satyanarayana - Cheliyalikatta, Kalpavrukshamu, Kinnerasaani Paatalu, Srimadraamaayana kalpavŕkshamu, Swargaaniki Nichchenalu, Vaeyipadagalu, Aekaveera
Vemana - Vemana Satakam
Yandamoori Veerendranath - Vennello aadapilla, Marana Mrudangam, Aanando Brahma, Tulasi dalam, Ashta Vakra, Prarthana
Yerrapragada - Harivansamu, Nrusimhapuranam, half of the aranya parva of MahaBharat
