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Nannaya, Tikkana & Errana (11th - 14th
century): Known as the Kavya Traya or the 'Trinity of Telugu
Literature' these three poets are the composers of the Andhra Mahabharata,
a replica of the Sanskrit Mahabharata. Nannaya is acclaimed as the
Adi Kavi or the first poet of Telugu literature. Most of Telugu
literature begins with this massive epic transcreated by these three great
sage-scholars
Gonabudda Reddy (13th century): Gonabudda
Reddy is known for his Ranganatha Ramayanam which is a pioneering
work on the theme of Ramayana in Telugu. The whole work comprises seven
khandas (parts). The work has become a part of the Andhra cultural
life and is also used by puppeteers for their shows
Srinathudu (14th century): A poet of immense
calabre Srinathudu lived in the 14th century. His poetic works include
Marutarat-charitra (Tale of King Marutta),Saalivahana Sapta Sati
(100 tales of Saalivahana), Palanaati Veera Charitra (Tale
of Heroes of Palnatu), Kasi Khandam (Legends of Kasi), Bheema
Khandam and Hara Vilasam (The Glory of Lord Shiva) which is
considered to be an outstanding piece of literature.
Bammera Potana (15th century): Potana,
who lived in the later part of the 15th century is believed to be the author
of Narayana Satakamu (The Hundred Verses of Narayana), Veerabhadra
Vijayamu (Tale of Victoroius Veerabhadra), Bhogini Dandakamu (The
Poem of Bhogini) and also the great classic Andhra Mahabhagavathamu
(The Mahabhagvatam of Andhra). It is a Telugu rendering of the Srimad
Bhagvatam of Ved Vyasa. This book of Potana is known for its excellent
narrative style and the art of versification.
Sri Krishnadevaraya (16th century):
A renowned emperor of the famous Vijaynagar kingdom, Sri Krishnadevaraya
is also known for his great epic Amukta Malyada (A Garland Dedicated
to the Lord). The whole work of Amukta Malyada has a grand poetic
style and the work blends the eternal and the temporal in a masterly fashion
even as it unfolds an interesting tale.
Pingaliu Soorana (16th century): Soorana
was a pioneering figure in the field of Telugu classical poetry of the
medieaval age. He has to his credit mainly three works Raghavapandaviyam
a dyvarthi-kavya, Kalapurnodayam (Full Blooming of Art) and
Prabhavati Pradyumnam. Kalapurnodayam has been hailed as
the first original poetic novel in Telugu literature.
Gurajada Venkata Appa Rao (1862-1915): Hailed
as the father of Modern Telugu literature, G.V.Appa Rao blazed a new ttail
in play-writing as also in poetry and short story Kanyasulkam (Bride-Price)
is one of his outstanding plays. It was the harbringer of modernism of
Telugu literature.
Unnava Lakshminarayana (1877-1959): Known
for his famous novel Mala Palli (The Harijan Colony), Lakshminarayana
was also an ardent freedom fighter who launched a crusade against untouchability.
The novel combines within itself both social realism and spiritual idealism,
a rare combination to be found in a single novel.
Rayaprolu Subba Rao (1892-1984): Rayaprolu
is hailed as one of the pioneers of modern Telugu literature.Lalitha,
Andhravali, Truna Kankanam (Grass Bracelet), Kashta Kamala (Kamala
in Distress), Ramyalokam (Aesthetic Perception) and Jadakutchulu
(Braid Ornaments) are some of his principal works. Andhravali si
considered as the watershad in Telugu literature for its modernity of themes
such as naturalism, rural life, platonic love, a sense of history and fierce
nationalism.
Viswanatha Satyanarayan (1895-1976): Won
the Jnanpith award for his Ramayana Kalpa Vriksham and is the author
of more than a 100 works. He won the Sahitya Academy Award for his Madhyakkaras
and also was conferred the title of Padma Bushan..His Veyi Padagalu
(A Thousand Hoods) is the most outstanding of his novels.
Nori Narasimha Sastry (1900-1980): N.N
Sastry was a poet, novelist, dramatist, essayist, critic and translator.
A versatile and prolific writer, he laid his hands on all the literary
genres, but it was the novel and particularly the historical novel which
brought him fame and popularity. Narayanabattu, Rudramadevi and
Mallareddiare are the major novels penned by him. The uniqueness
of his novels is that each novel has a great poet as its central character.
Kodavatiganti Kutumba Rao (1909): A
prolific story writer, Rao produced 400 stories..His principal works are
Chadvvu, Braduku Bhayam, Kalalushastriya Vijnanam, Kalabhairavudu
and Karunyam.
Tripuraneni Gopichand (1910-1962):
Telugu novelist, short story writer, editor, essayist, playwright and film
director, Gopichand's writings are ramarkable for an interplay of values,
ideas and 'isms' -- materialism, rationalism, existentialism, realism and
humanism. He is celebrated for his second novel Asamardhuni Javayatra
(The Incompetent's Life Journey).This is the first psychological novel
in Telugu literature.
Srirangam Srinivasarao (1910-1983): Known
for the landmark anthology Mahaprasthanam (The Great March), Srinivasarao
was a pioneer of the progressive poetry in Telugu. His poetry took an amazing
leap and astounding depth when he wrote the Desa Charitralu (History
of Nations). He was acknowkedged as Mahakavi of the New Proletarian Age.
Puttaparthi Narayanacharya (1914-1990):
Narayanacharya was a front-ranking classical poet, literary critic,
composer, musicologist, translator and polyglot. He has about 50 works
of poetry to his credit.. Considered an authority on the history and literature
of the Vijaynagar period, he has written in Telugu extensively on Sanskrit,
Prakrit, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam literatures..He has about 3000 musical
compositions in Telugu and Sanskrit to his credit and 200 of them have
been notated by himself. He had the unique and ironic experience of having
written a poetic work called Penugonda Lakshmi at the age of 14,
prescribed as a text when he took the Vidwan examination in his thirtees.
Shivathandavam (The Cosmic Dance of Shiva) is the most representative
of his genius.
Baliwada Kantharao (1927): Kantharao is
the author of many works including Vamsadhara and Daga Padina
Tammudu (The betrayed Younger Brother) and also hundreds of stories.
Vasireddy Seethadevi (1933): Seetahdevi
is an acclaimed writer in Telugu. She has published around 40 novels and
10 short story collections. Mattimanishi (Son of Mother Earth) is
one of her best novels. The novel is a landmark in modern Telugu fiction.
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