Hyderabad: Poets wrote in a variety of genres

Hyderabad: Popular Telugu writers had different genres, ideologies and styles, all enriching the language. Short stories, novels, dramas, poetry both in conventional Kavyam style and free verse and even movie songs contributed to this popularity.

From the days of Nannaya up to 18th century writers used to pen only ‘Padya Kavyams’ on mythological themes using more of Sanskrit and concentrating on alamkarams. It was Gurajada Appa Rao from Vizianagaram who revolutionalised the Telugu prose making it understandable to the common man through his ‘Kanya Sulkam Natakam’ (drama). 

The impact of this play was such that despite there being no ‘Kanya Sulkam’ (offering dowry to the bride) and being replaced by ‘Vara Katnam’ (dowry to the groom), the drama remains popular even now. It was translated into a number of national and international languages. 

Several writers followed Gurajada style later and brought out several works related to sociological and contemporary issues.

The first recipient of the Gyan Peet Award in Telugu Dr Viswanadha Satyanarayana came out again with his ‘Sri Mad Ramayana Kalpa vriksham’ a magnum opus on Ramayana which was equally popular. He penned a number of works in different forms of the language, orthodox and modern.

Around this time ‘Maha Kavi’ Sri Sri (Srirangam Srinivasa Rao) came out with his revolutionary stanzas in ‘Maha Prasthanam’ and the influence on society, particularly youth, was enormous and is quoted even now. It too was translated into several languages.

Before these, Tirupathi Venkata Kavulu (twin poets) revolutionised Telugu poetry with their ‘Pandava Vudyoga Vijayalu’, though it was all in ‘padyams’, which even the illiterate then used to recite.

‘Telugu Padyam’ reached its height with their works, besides the unique ‘Avadhanams’. In late 60s Telugu novel took readers by storm with women writers Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani, Koduri Kowsalya Devi and Madireddy Sulochana whose novels contributed to making reading a habit. Then came Yandamuri Veerendranath and Malladi Krishnamurthy.

With the advent of motion pictures in early 1930s, Telugu movies gained importance influencing people. Singer Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao remains popular even now.