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