Dharmavaram Ramakrishnamacharyulu
Encyclopedia
Dharmavaraṃ Rāmakr̥ṣṇamācāryulu (Telugu
: ధర్మవరం రామకృష్ణామాచార్యులు) (1853–1912) was a renowned Telugu
dramatist and playwright
from Bellary
. He was known as "Andhra Nataka Pithamaha" and wrote more than 30 original plays.
village in Anantapur district
, Andhra Pradesh
in 1853 (Karthika Sudha Ekadasi). His parents were Krishnamacharyulu and Laxmidevamma; family name was Komanduru. He lost his father when he was 16 years of age and the family responsibility fell on his shoulders. After Matriculation
, he worked for sometime in the Municipal High School and Adoni Taluk Office. He returned to Bellary
and started practising as vakil in the Cantonment. He lost his wife soon after marriage and later married Laxmidevamma. He had passed first grade pleader's examination and F.A. in 1874. His legal practice flourished as he mastered the art of cross examination of the witness to bring out the truth. He had three brothers and three sisters. His sisters were Pedda Seshamma, Chinna Seshamma and Krishnamma. Pedda Seshamma was the mother of Bellary Raghava
. His brothers were Gopalacharyulu, Venkata Krishnamacharyulu and Seshacharyulu.
Influenced by the success of Kannada dramas staged by Rajadhani Nataka Mandali in 1881, his brother Gopalacharyulu wrote a drama in Telugu and staged it. It did not made any impact to the public. Having felt insulted, Krishnamacharyulu wrote a drama himself in Kannada Swapna Niruddhamu and staged it in 1886. The drama impressed the public very much. There was an opinion that Telugu language was not suitable for drama format. He took up the partly written Telugu drama Chitra Naliyam and completed it. He directed the play and took the lead role on 29 January 1887. The play was great success thereby the misconception that Telugu was unsuitable for playwriting was removed. He wrote about 29 dramas successively and staged them with great success. He introduced songs and poems in the drama. He took his troupe to Madras and staged his plays in 1891 at Victoria Public Hall. They were greatly appreciated by the public. P. Sambandham Mudaliar, inspired by these dramas, established Suguna Vilas Sabha. He about 90 dramas in Tamil and staged them. He was considered as the modern Tamil Nataka Pithamaha. He recognized Ramakrishnamacharyulu as his Guru.
Many of his plays were performed by the Surabhi Drama Troupe, the most noted one being Bhakta Prahlada
which was made into a movie, the first Telugu talkie movie. Ramakrishna Vilas, a theatre building in Bellary named after Dharmavaram Ramakrishnamacharyulu, was the second theatre building in Bellary. This was later converted into a cinema theatre and renamed as Star Cinema.
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...
: ధర్మవరం రామకృష్ణామాచార్యులు) (1853–1912) was a renowned Telugu
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...
dramatist and playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
from Bellary
Bellary
Bellary is a historic city in Bellary District in Karnataka state, India.-Origins of the city's name:There are several legends about how Bellary got its name....
. He was known as "Andhra Nataka Pithamaha" and wrote more than 30 original plays.
Early life
He was born in DharmavaramDharmavaram
Dharmavaram is the third biggest town and a municipality located in Anantapur district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is famous throughout India for producing silk sarees. The Dharmavaram Temples are important places of pilgrimage. Puttaparthi, the birth place and abode of Sathya Sai...
village in Anantapur district
Anantapur district
Anantapur District , ) is one of the 23 districts in Andhra Pradesh, India. The district headquarters is Anantapur City. It is currently a part of the Red Corridor.- Geography :...
, Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
in 1853 (Karthika Sudha Ekadasi). His parents were Krishnamacharyulu and Laxmidevamma; family name was Komanduru. He lost his father when he was 16 years of age and the family responsibility fell on his shoulders. 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...
, he worked for sometime in the Municipal High School and Adoni Taluk Office. He returned to Bellary
Bellary
Bellary is a historic city in Bellary District in Karnataka state, India.-Origins of the city's name:There are several legends about how Bellary got its name....
and started practising as vakil in the Cantonment. He lost his wife soon after marriage and later married Laxmidevamma. He had passed first grade pleader's examination and F.A. in 1874. His legal practice flourished as he mastered the art of cross examination of the witness to bring out the truth. He had three brothers and three sisters. His sisters were Pedda Seshamma, Chinna Seshamma and Krishnamma. Pedda Seshamma was the mother of Bellary Raghava
Bellary Raghava
Bellary Raghava was a noted Indian playwright from Bellary, India.Tadpatri Raghavacharlu, populary known as 'Bellary' Raghava, was a renowned actor. He was born on 2 August 1880. He received his early education at Bellary and later graduated in law from the Madras University. His uncle Dharmavaraṃ...
. His brothers were Gopalacharyulu, Venkata Krishnamacharyulu and Seshacharyulu.
The beginning
During the famine between 1871-73 he and his friends established a society called Veera Sangam, to serve those affected. After the famine it was converted into a debating society. He initially wrote four short plays which were instant success. In 1888, the society was replaced by the famous Sarasa Vinodini Sabha.Influenced by the success of Kannada dramas staged by Rajadhani Nataka Mandali in 1881, his brother Gopalacharyulu wrote a drama in Telugu and staged it. It did not made any impact to the public. Having felt insulted, Krishnamacharyulu wrote a drama himself in Kannada Swapna Niruddhamu and staged it in 1886. The drama impressed the public very much. There was an opinion that Telugu language was not suitable for drama format. He took up the partly written Telugu drama Chitra Naliyam and completed it. He directed the play and took the lead role on 29 January 1887. The play was great success thereby the misconception that Telugu was unsuitable for playwriting was removed. He wrote about 29 dramas successively and staged them with great success. He introduced songs and poems in the drama. He took his troupe to Madras and staged his plays in 1891 at Victoria Public Hall. They were greatly appreciated by the public. P. Sambandham Mudaliar, inspired by these dramas, established Suguna Vilas Sabha. He about 90 dramas in Tamil and staged them. He was considered as the modern Tamil Nataka Pithamaha. He recognized Ramakrishnamacharyulu as his Guru.
Many of his plays were performed by the Surabhi Drama Troupe, the most noted one being Bhakta Prahlada
Bhakta Prahlada (1931 film)
Bhakta Prahlada is the first Telugu talkie film made in 1931 by H. M. Reddy, a pioneer of the Indian film industry. It is a movie about a devotee Prahlada in Hindu mythology.-History:...
which was made into a movie, the first Telugu talkie movie. Ramakrishna Vilas, a theatre building in Bellary named after Dharmavaram Ramakrishnamacharyulu, was the second theatre building in Bellary. This was later converted into a cinema theatre and renamed as Star Cinema.