Welcome to Telugu Literature portal of BharatWiki. Here we will explore Telugu literature in all its grandeur and sweetness. Many great poets and writers of yore and of present day contributed to the richness of Telugu language. Here we look at telugu literature in all forms such as - Kavya, Prabandha, Sataka, Padya, Kirtana etc. We provide the biographies all those great personalities. We also provide information about great literary works in Telugu.
Telugu literature prior to Nannayya Bhattarakudu’s Andhra Mahabharatamu was not preserved, except royal grants and decrees. So, Nannayya is known as Aadi Kavi (the first poet). The advanced and well-developed language used by Nannayya suggests that this may not be the beginning of Telugu literature. Andhra Mahabharatamu was later furthered by Tikanna Somayaji (1205–1288), to be finally completed by Yerrapragada (fourteenth century). Nannaya, Tikanna and Yerrapragada are known as the Kavitraya or the three great poets of Telugu for this mammoth effort. Other such translations like Marana’s Markandeya Puranam, Ketana’s Dasakumara Charita, Yerrapragada’s Harivamsam followed.
It was almost the end of the eleventh century by the time the original Telugu literature came to exist. Some of the early landmarks are Srinatha’s Sringara Naishadham, Potana’s Dasamaskandham, Jakkana’s Vikramarka Charitra and Talapaka Timmakka’s Subhadra Kalyanam. Literary activities flourished, during the rule of Vijayanagara dynasty. Krishnadevaraya’ s time (sixteenth century) is considered the golden age in the history of Telugu literature. The king, a poet himself, introduced the Prabandha (a kind of love poetry) in Telugu literature with his Amukta Malyada. His court had the Ashtadiggajas (literally "eight elephants") who were the known to be the greatest of poets of that time.
Bapu Bomma - The drawings of Bapu (known as 'Bapu Bommalu') are very well loved by all telugu people.
Person of the Month: Viswanatha Satyanarayana
Viswanatha Satyanarayana (b. 10 September 1895– d. 18 October 1976), popularly known as the Kavi Samraat (Emperor of Poetry), was a modern Telugu poet.
Born in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Viswanatha was a disciple of the "Tirupati Venkata Kavulu" duo. Viswanatha's style of poetry was classical in nature and his popular works include Ramayana Kalpa Vrikshamu (A resourceful tree called Ramayana), Kinnersani patalau (Mermaid songs) and Veyipadagalu (The Thousand Hoods).
He was awarded the Jnanpith Award and Padma Bhushan in 1970. The citation of Jnanpith read as follows: As a Poet of classic vision and virility, as a novelist and playwright of deep insight and impact, as an essayist and literary critic of force and felicity, and as a stylist of rare range Mr. Satyanarayana has carved for himself a place of eminence amongst the immortals of Telugu Literature. His ceaseless creativity and versatility have kept him in the forefront of contemporary Telugu Literary Scene.
The parallel "free-verse" movement in easy prose of Telugu literature criticized him as a bigot who hung onto the strict rules of prosody such as Yati, Prasa (rhyme) and Chandassu (meter).
