Balijepalli Lakshmikantham
Encyclopedia
Balijepalli Lakshmikantham or Lakshmikantha Kavi (Telugu
: బలిజేపల్లి లక్ష్మీకాంతం) (23 December 1881 – 30 June 1953) actor, poet, dramatist and freedom fighter. He is remembered for the masterpiece Harischandra (Satya Harischandriyamu) written in 1924, which is popular even today and has been played by many drama troupes. He himself used to play the role of Nakshatraka.
near Bapatla
in 1881 to Narasimha Sastry and Adilakshmamma. After Matriculation
in Kurnool, he worked for some in the Sub-registrar office as Gumasta. He worked as teacher in Hindu College
. He used to tour different Zamindaris to perform Avadhanam
s.
He established Chandrika Printing press in Guntur with the help of Challapalli Raja in 1922. He has participated in Salt Satyagraha
and jailed. While in prison, he wrote Satya Harischandriyam drama. He established First drama company in 1926 and played Satya Harischandra and Uttara Raghavam many times. He used to play critical roles in these plays. The most prominent role he used to play was Nakshatraka.
He entered the film industry with encouragement by Chittajallu Pullayya and wrote dialogues and songs and acted in some Telugu films. His debut film as an actor in Vara Vikrayam
in 1939. He portrayed the character Lingaraju.
He died in Sri Kalahasti in 1953.
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...
: బలిజేపల్లి లక్ష్మీకాంతం) (23 December 1881 – 30 June 1953) actor, poet, dramatist and freedom fighter. He is remembered for the masterpiece Harischandra (Satya Harischandriyamu) written in 1924, which is popular even today and has been played by many drama troupes. He himself used to play the role of Nakshatraka.
Brief life
He was born in Itikampadu village of Guntur districtGuntur district
Guntur district is located in Andhra Pradesh along the east coast of Bay of Bengal. The district has a coastline of around 100 kilometers. Guntur City is the largest city in the district and administrative center of Guntur District. The district is a major center for learning.-Etymology:There are...
near Bapatla
Bapatla
Bapatla, formerly known as Bhavapuri, is a town and mandal of Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located south of Guntur City on the East Coast.-Assembly constituency:Bapatla is an assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh....
in 1881 to Narasimha Sastry and Adilakshmamma. After Matriculation
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
in Kurnool, he worked for some in the Sub-registrar office as Gumasta. He worked as teacher in Hindu College
Hindu College
-India:*DRBCC Hindu College, Chennai*Gobardanga Hindu College, West Bengal State University, Gobardanga Dist., West Bengal*Gokul Das Hindu Girls College, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh*Hindu College, University of Delhi...
. He used to tour different Zamindaris to perform Avadhanam
Avadhanam
Avadhana is a literary performance popular from the very ancient days in India, cultivated by the Telugu speaking community. It involves the partial improvisation of poems using specific themes, metres, forms, or words....
s.
He established Chandrika Printing press in Guntur with the help of Challapalli Raja in 1922. He has participated in Salt Satyagraha
Salt Satyagraha
The Salt March, also known as the Salt Satyagrahah began with the Dandi March on March 12, 1930, and was an important part of the Indian independence movement. It was a campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly in colonial India, and triggered the wider...
and jailed. While in prison, he wrote Satya Harischandriyam drama. He established First drama company in 1926 and played Satya Harischandra and Uttara Raghavam many times. He used to play critical roles in these plays. The most prominent role he used to play was Nakshatraka.
He entered the film industry with encouragement by Chittajallu Pullayya and wrote dialogues and songs and acted in some Telugu films. His debut film as an actor in Vara Vikrayam
Vara Vikrayam
Vara 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...
in 1939. He portrayed the character Lingaraju.
He died in Sri Kalahasti in 1953.
Literary works
- ShivanandalahariShivanandalahariShivanandalahari is a devotional hymn composed by Adi Shankara, the Advaita philosopher, on Shiva. It literally means Wave of Auspicious Bliss. It consists of one hundred stanzas of Sanskrit poetry in various chandas . It was composed by Adi Shankara while staying in Srisailam. It begins with an...
Satakam (Telugu translation of Shankara's work) - Swarajya Samasya (Poetic work)
- Brahmaratham (Novel)
- Mani Manjusha (Novel)
- Buddhimati Vilasamu (Play)
- Satya Harishchandriyamu (Play)
- Uttara Raghavamu (Telugu translation of BhavabhutiBhavabhutiBhavabhuti was an 8th century scholar of India noted for his plays and poetry, written in Sanskrit. His plays are considered equivalent to the works of Kalidasa...
's work)
Filmography
- (1935) (writer)
- Anasuya (1936) (writer)
- JarasandhaJarasandhaJarasandha was a great and legendary king of Magadha. He was the son of a vedic king named Brihadratha. He was also a great devotee of Lord Shiva. But he is generally held in negative light owing to his enmity with the Yadav clan in the Mahābhārata....
(1938) (lyricist) - Malli Pelli (1939) (dialogue writer and actor)
- Vara Vikrayam (1939) (dialogue writer and actor)
- BhukailasaBhookailas (1940 film)Bhookailas is a 1940 Telugu film produced by A. V. Meiyappan and directed by Sundar Rao Nadkarni. The film is starring M. V. Subbaiah Naidu, R. Nagendra Rao. It was the first hit film for the establishment of AVM Productions....
(1940) (dialogue) - Vishwa MohiniVishwa MohiniVishwa Mohini or Vishwamohini is a 1940 Telugu film directed by Y. V. Rao. This film is a love triangle satirizing the film industry.-The plot:...
(1940) (dialogue) - Jeevana MukthiJeevana MukthiJeevana Mukthi or Jeevanmukthi is a 1942 Telugu film produced by S. S. Vasan of Gemini Studios.-Plot summary:Jeevudu, an untouchable cobbler, leads a saintly life with his wife Seva and son Bhavudu. Because of his devotion, Lord Vishnu appears before him every day, and eats whatever he is given as...
(1942) - Bala NagammaBala NagammaBala Nagamma or Balanagamma is a 1942 Telugu Silver Jubilee film directed by Chittajallu Pullayya. The Bala Nagamma story was one of the most popular Burrakathas.-The plot:...
(1942) (writer and actor) - Tahsildar (1944) (dialogue writer and actor)
- Brahma RathamBrahma RathamBrahma Ratham is a 1947 Telugu Drama film directed by Chitrapu Narayana Rao. It is based on the Novel by same name written by Balijepalli Lakshmikantham.-Cast:* Addanki Srirama Murthy * C. Krishnaveni * B. Jayamma* Parupalli* A. V. Subba Rao...
(1947) (writer) - Raksharekha (1949) (dialogues, story writer and actor)