== Tapi Dharma Rao ==

Telugu scenarist-lyricist, poet, journalist and
literary critic born in Behrampur. Influenced as
a student by the historian Gidugu Ramamurthy
Panthulu, who advocated a vyavaharika (or
demotic) Telugu. Was personal secretary to the
Rajah of Bobbili, a Justice Party ideologue for
the interests of the zamindar class and Chief
Minister of Madras Presidency in the early
Dharma Rao, Tapi
90
1930s. Pursued the notion of a people’s
language in his poetry (esp. in Dyayonam,
Bhikshapatram, Andhra Tejam) and in plays
like Vilasarjunam, Taptashrukanam and
Avanni Kannellena. Wrote essays on historical
and cultural issues, e.g. in journals like
Samadarshini and Janavani, later collected in
his Kottapali Onamalu Sahitya Mormaralu.
Worked on films by Ramabrahmam
(Malapilla, 1938; Raitu Bidda, 1939). Wrote
scripts and lyrics for e.g. L.V. Prasad’s Drohi
(1948), B.A. Subba Rao’s Palletoori Pilla (1950)
and K.S. Prakash Rao’s Deeksha (1951). A
major advocate of a separate state for Teluguspeaking
people prior to the formation of
Andhra Pradesh. Wrote c.40 scripts and several
very popular lyrics. Father of film director Tapi
Chanakya.

[[Writer]]