Aarudhra


Aarudhra was an Indian author, poet, lyricist, translator, publisher, dramatist, playwright, and an expert in Telugu literature. Aarudhra is the nephew of Telugu poet Sri Sri and is also known for his works exclusively in Telugu cinema as a screenwriter, dialogue writer, and story writer, and is the recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1987.

Early life

Aarudra was born in Yelamanchili, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India on 31 August 1925. After the primary education, he shifted to Vizianagaram in 1942 for his college education. He got 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 cine field 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

Aarudhra 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:
  1. Early and Chalukya Era
  2. Kakatiya dynasty
  3. Padmanayaka Era
  4. Reddiraju Era
  5. Early Rayala
  6. Later Rayala
  7. Nawabs
  8. Nayaka Kings
  9. Later Nayaka Kings
  10. East India Company
  11. Zamindari
  12. Modern

    How is Sita related to Rama?

Ramudiki Sita Yemautundi? or How is Sita related to Rama?, put before the public the riddle of Mandodari, Sita and Hanuman and their origins in a lucid and scholarly way. It was a bold attempt at cracking the Valmiki-Ramayana code and in the process de-mystified the story of Rama to the middle-class, literate, modern day Telugu reader.
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 amounted to intellectual dishonesty.

List of his works

  1. Beedala Patlu
  2. Kanna Talli
  3. Pakka Inti Ammayi
  4. Veera Kankanam
  5. Chenchu Lakshmi
  6. Illarikam
  7. Jayabheri
  8. Aradhana
  9. Bhishma
  10. Dakshayagnam
  11. Manchi Kutumbam
  12. Gudachari 116
  13. Farz
  14. The Train
  15. Mosagallaku Mosagadu
  16. Andala Ramudu
  17. Muthyala Muggu
  18. Yashoda Krishna
  19. Mahakavi Kshetrayya
  20. Daana Veera Soora Karna
  21. Mallepoovu
  22. Anugraham
  23. Kondura
  24. Thoorpu Velle Railu
  25. Pelli Pusthakam
  26. Mr. Pellam

    Film songs

His Film songs are compiled and published by his wife K. Ramalaxmi in five volumes.,
YearFilm titlePopular song/s
1965Manchi KutumbamManase Andhala Brundhavanam
Preminchuta Pillala Vantu, Deevinchuta Peddala Vantu
1965Pandava VanavasamBaavaa Baavaa Panneeru
1965Preminchi ChooduMee Andala Chetulu Kandenu Papam
1965VeerabhimanyuAdigo Navalokam Velase Manakosam
Rambha Urvashi Taladanne Ramaneelalama Evareeme
1965ZamindarChukkalu Podiche Vela Makkuva Teere Vela
1965 "uyyala jampala" kondagaali tirigindi, gunDe vuusulaaDindi... https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=g-B5nAbSzQ4
1966AntastuluVinara Vissanna Ne Vedam Cheputa Vinaranna
1967Bhakta PrahladaSiri Siri Laali Chinnari Laali
1967Gudachari 116Manasuteera Navvule Navvule Navvali
1967SaakshiAmma Kadupu Challaga Atta Kadupu Challaga Batakara Batakara Pacchaga
1968Bandipotu DongaluGandara Ganda Shoggadivanta
1968RamuPacchani Chettu Okati Vecchani Chilakalu Rendu
1970Akka ChelleluChakachakalade Paduchundi
1972Iddaru AmmayiluOho Mister Brahmachari
1978Mana Voori PandavuluOrey Pichchi Sannasi Ila Choodu Ila Choodu Itukesi
Pandavulu Pandavulu Thummeda Mana Voori Pandavulu Thummeda
1978Vayasu PilichindiMuthyamalle Merisipoye Mallemogga
Nuvvadigindi Enaadaina Kaadhannaana
1991Pelli PustakamSrirastu Subhamastu Srikaram Chuttukundi Pelli Pustakam
1993Mister PellamAdagavayya Ayyagari Ekkuvemito Cheppamanu Aadavalla Thakkuvemito