Arudra (1925-98)

Telugu poet and film lyricist born in Vizag, AP, as Bhagavathula Shankara Sastry. Started publishing poetry as a teenager, e.g. Loha Vihangalu. Initially influenced by radical poetSri Sri?. After a brief stint in the army, he became a professional writer under the name Arudra. Early writing was romantic, but became more political under the influence of the Telangana anti-zamindari movements (cf. Twamevaham). Major poetry anthologies include Kunalamma Padyalu (1964), Enchina Padyalu (1965) and Intinti Padyalu (1969). Also wrote patriotic songs during the India- China war (1962). Compiled an anthology of Telugu literature (Samagrandhra Sahityam). Film début in the Telugu version (Beedala Patlu) of ​Ramnoth’s classic Ezhai Padum Padu (1950). Made his reputation in films with Premalekhalu (1953), the Telugu dubbed version of Raj Kapoor’s Aah? (1953). Described as the last of the pre-rock generation film lyricists. Recently worked for Bapu (Pelli Pustakam, 1991). Classic film lyrics anthologised by V.A.K. Ranga Rao in Kondagali Tirigindi.

Music