Bellary Raghava

Bellary Raghava (Telugu: బళ్ళారి రాఘవ; born Tadipatri Raghavacharyulu; 2 August 1880 – 16 April 1946) was an Indian playwright and actor, known for his works predominantly in Telugu theatre and cinema.[1][2] His uncle Dharmavaram Ramakrishnamacharyulu was a pioneering dramatist in Telugu, and initiated him on the stage. Raghava was also associated with another dramatist from Ballari, Kolachalam Srinivasa Rao. His students include female artists like Sarojini Kopparapu, Padmavati Kommuri, Annapurna Kakinada, and male artists like Vasudevarao K.S., Apparao Basavaraju and Banda Kanakalingeswara Rao.[3]

Bellary Raghava
Born
Tadipatri Raghavacharylu

2 August 1880
Anantapuram,Bellary District, Ceded Madras presidency, British India (present - day) Anantapuram Andhra Pradesh India
Died16 April 1946(1946-04-16) (aged 65) Madras, Madras Presidency, British India, (Present - day Chennai Tamil Nadu)
Occupation(s)Thespian
actor
dramatist
playwright

Early life

Raghava studied at Bellary High School and at Christian College, Madras. He then practiced law after graduating from Madras Law College in 1905. Aged 12, he founded Shakespeare Club in Ballari and played in Shakespeare dramas. Raghava also portrayed main characters in various dramas in the Sreenivasarao Kolachalam's group "Sumanohara" in Bangalore. In 1909 he founded the Amateur Dramatic Association of Bangalore.

Notable theatre works

Harischandra, Padukapattabhishekamu, Savitri, Brihannala, Ramaraju charitra, Ramadasu, Tappevaridi, Saripadani sangatulu, etc. were his noted dramas. He visited various countries like Sri Lanka, England, France, Germany and Switzerland and gave seminars and lectures on Indian drama art. He advocated and developed the naturalistic style in acting. He was very particular that women should always play female roles on the stage. In 1927 he went to England and took part in English dramas with Laurence Olivier and Charles Laughton. His presentation of Tappevaridi by Rajamannar in 1930 in Madras, has received critical reception as a momentous event heralding a new era in Telugu theatre.[1]

Cinema

In 1936, Raghava played Duryodhana in H. M. Reddy's Draupadi Maanasamrakshanam. He then acted in Raithu Bidda (1939) and Chandika (1940),[4] and has garnered critical acclaim.[5]

Death

Raghava died on 16 April 1946. The Ballari Raghava Puraskaram award was instituted in his memory. It is presented to talented artists who contributed to drama and cinema.[6] In 1981, a postal stamp was released in his memory.[7]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bellary Raghava.
  1. M.L. Narasimharao (2002) Nooruguru Telugu Pramukhulu. Vepachedu Educational Foundation Inc.
  2. Chirantana Bhatt (31 October 2015). "The next stage: The evolving face of theatre in India". Forbes India.
  3. "Bellary Raghava remembered". The Hindu. 5 August 2007.
  4. Bellary Raghava. IMDb
  5. "In memory of Bellary Raghava". The Hindu. 4 August 2007.
  6. "Annapurna Sagar to get Bellary Raghava Award". The Hindu. 1 August 2012.
  7. "✍pedia – India Post (भारतीय डाक ) Stamps published in year 1981". 27 December 2012.

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