Srinatha was a well-known 15th-century Telugupoet who popularised the Prabandha style of composition.
Biography
Srinatha was born on Kalapatam village on Gudur Mandal in Krishna district to parents Bhimamba and Marayya in 1365/1370 Srinatha was respected as Kavi Sarvabhouma in Telugu, and patronised by many kings. Srinatha worked as a minister in the court of Pedakomati Vemareddy of Kondaveedu. He managed to get his king's prestigious knife Nandikanta Potaraju Katari which was taken away by Lingamanedu ruler of Devarakandain return for his literary prowess. Srinatha produced and dedicated a host of books to kings and enjoyed a luxurious life. However, he seemed to have suffered from poverty at the end of his life. Srinatha died in 1441, after the conquest of coastal andhra by Kapileswara Gajapati. He was not the brother-in-law of another famous Telugu poet Potana as shown in the movies.
Works
Srinatha wrote, Panditaaradhyacharita, Sivaratri Mahatyam, Haravilāsamu, Bhimakanda, Kashikhandam, Srungara Naishadham, Palanati Veeracharitra, Dhananjaya Vijjayam, Marrutaratcharithra, Srungaradipika and Kridabhiramam over the subjects of history and mythology. He translated Salivahana Gatha Saptasati in to Telugu from Prakrit.
Style
Prabandha can be described as a story in verse form with a tight metrical structure. Srinatha's Srungara Naishadhamu is a well-known example of the form. He is also credited with hundreds of extempore poems called Chatuvulu in Telugu.
Awards and Titles
He was widely regarded as the Kavi Sarvabhowma. He had broken the drum of Gouda Dimdimabhattu by his conversation
A biographical film on Srinatha named Srinatha Kavi Sarvabhowmudu was released in 1993 by Bapu starring veteran actor N. T. Rama Rao and Jayasudha in the lead roles. Srinatha plays an important role in the Telugu filmBhakta Potana Produced, by the Vahini Studios, Madras in 1942. In this picture the great Telugu actor Late Sri Chittoor V. Nagaiah plays the role of Bammera Potana, and another great actor sri Gowri natha sastry played the role of Srinatha as the brother in law of Potana. After the death of his wife Srinatha leaves his daughter under the care of Potana. Srinatha was upset with the poverty of Potana in whose house his sister was also suffering along with his daughter. Srinatha was materialistic in his attitude, used to visit the courts of different kings, wrote poetry in their praise and enjoyed a luxurious life. Whenever he visited the house of Potana he used to ridicule them of their poverty and advised Potana to imitate him and enjoy a good life. But Potana refused to follow suit and remained firm in his devotion to Lord Sri Rama. In the end Srinatha realised his mistake and gladly gave away his daughter in marriage to the son of Potana who was an ordinary farmer. The tragedy is that Srinatha who enjoyed a lavish life style, died a miserable death with a big stone attached to his neck as a punishment by the local king.
