Aarudra

Aarudra was born in Yelamanchili, Anakapalli district, Andhra Pradesh, India on 31 August 1925.{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/arudra-birth-anniversary/article5081827.ece|title=Arudra birth anniversary|date=1 September 2013|work=The Hindu}} Aarudra is the nephew of Telugu poet Sri Sri. After primary education, he shifted to Vizianagaram in 1942 for his college education. He was attracted to communism after coming into contact with people like Ronanki Appalaswami and Chaganti Somayajulu.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}

He joined the Indian Air Force as a Band Boy in 1943 and served it till 1947. He shifted to Madras and worked as editor of Anandavani magazine for two years. Joining the film industry in 1949, he wrote lyrics and dialogues for many films. He married noted writer K. Rama Lakshmi (a columnist and a writer-critic in her own right) in 1954.{{cite web|url=http://www.visitvizag.in/arudra.asp |title=Archived copy |access-date=2007-04-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928131804/http://www.visitvizag.in/arudra.asp |archive-date=28 September 2007}}{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0038010/|title=Arudra|website=IMDb }}

Tvamevaham (You are none other than me) and Samagra Andhra Sahityam (An Encyclopedia of Telugu Literature) are his landmark works. He wrote poetry such as Koonalamma Padaalu, reminiscences of the Second World War.Aarudra, 'Samagra Andhra Sahityam' (1968). Reprinted in 1989Aarudra, 'Samagra Aaandhra Saahityam' (2005): Revised and Reprinted, Published by Telugu Akademi, Hyderabad. He translated the Tamil treatise Tirukkural into Telugu. He belonged to the school of progressive writers such as Abhyudaya Rachayitala Sangham.{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/br/2002/05/14/stories/2002051400130303.htm|title=The Hindu : Collection of essays|website=The Hindu }}{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/muddubidda-1956/article6641010.ece|title=MUDDUBIDDA (1956)|date=28 November 2014|work=The Hindu}}

Tvamevaaham written in 1948 was based on the contemporary violence and lawlessness during the Razakar movement in the princely state of Hyderabad. The Razakar attrocoties were sponsored by the Nizam against his own people who wanted to overthrow him in favor of democracy and join the Indian Union. In this kaavyam, death spoke to a human being and says, "you and I are the same (Tvamevaaham)".Aarudra, 'Vennela-vesavi', Navodaya Publishers, Vijayawada, 1977

Arudra first published the SAS in 12 parts between 1965 and 1968. It spans the Telugu literature from the 9th century CE to modern times. He chronicled the history of Telugu Literature in 12 volumes:

1. Early and Chalukya Era (From 8 – 9c CE to end of 12c CE)
2. Kakatiya dynasty (1200–1290 CE)
3. Padmanayaka Era (1337–1399 CE)
4. Reddiraju Era (1400–1450 CE)
5. Early Rayala (Vijayanagara) (1450–1500 CE)
6. Later Rayala (Vijayanagara) (1500–1550 CE)
7. Nawabs (1550–1600 CE)
8. Nayaka Kings (1600–1670 CE)
9. Later Nayaka Kings (1670–1750 CE)
10. East India Company (1750–1850 CE)
11. Zamindari (1850–1900 CE)
12. Modern (1900 CE onwards)

Ramudiki Sita Yemautundi? or How is Sita related to Rama?, put before the public the riddle of Mandodari, Sita and Hanuman and their origins in a lucid and scholarly way. It was a bold attempt at cracking the Valmiki-Ramayana code and in the process de-mystified the story of Rama to the middle-class, literate, modern day Telugu reader.

Aarudra, 'Ramudiki Seetemautundi? 'Vishalandra Publishing House, Hyderabad, 1978.

The book explores the Buddhist and Jain sources of the story of Rama. It also surveys the Khotan Siam (Thai), Laos, and Malaysian versions of the story of Rama. Here is a sampling from the 'Dasaratha Jataka ', a Buddhist Tale:

Buddha narrates the 'Dasaratha Jataka' tale to a householder who was grieving the death of his son....Long long ago.. Dasaratha was the king of Varanasi. He had sixteen thousand wives.The Queen had two sons and a daughter.The eldest son was called Ramapundit and the younger one was called Laxmanpundit. The daughter was called Sitadevi. The Queen dies after sometime. Dasaratha marries again, and comes to like her the most. She begets a son named Bharata...When Ramapundit returns from the forest, he marries Sita and rules for 16000 years...Bodhisatta concludes the story stating that Dasaratha was none other than Shuddhodana (Father of Buddha) in an earlier reincarnation. Similarly, Sita was none other than Rahulmata (Mother of Rahul or Wife of Buddha) and Ramapundit was none other than Buddha himself.

• Poems (Kavyas): Tvamevaaham, Sinivaali, koonalamma Padaalu, Intinti Pajyaalu. America Intinti pajyaalu, sitakoka chilukalu (radio play)
• Lyrics: Gaayaalu-Geyaalu, Pailaapacceesu, Yencina Padyaalu, Yetikedadi, Kondagaali Tirigindi.
• Translations: Veera Telangaana Viplava Geetalu (from English), Vennela-Vesavi (from Tamil), Kabeer Bhaavaalu and Batvaada-Arudra (from Hindi).
• Dramas: Udgeedha, Geyanaatika, Raadaari Bangla, Saalabhanjikalu.
• Dual Poetry: Rukkuteswara Satakam (with Sri Sri), Meemee (with Sri Sri and Varada)
• Research Work: Samagraandhra Saahityam, Arudra Vyaasapeetham, Raamudi ki Seeta Yemavutundi?,
• Other works: Arudra kathalu, Mahaneeyulu, Chadarangam, cinema scripts and lyrics.

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1. Beedala Patlu (1950) (lyrics)
2. Kanna Talli (1953) (writer)
3. Pakka Inti Ammayi (1953) (adapted screenplay)
4. Veera Kankanam (1957) (dialogue)
5. Chenchu Lakshmi (1958) (lyrics)
6. Illarikam (1959) (dialogue)
7. Jayabheri (1959) (lyrics)
8. Aradhana (1962) (lyrics)
9. Bhishma (1962) (lyrics)
10. Dakshayagnam (1962) (writer)
11. Manchi Kutumbam (1965) (lyrics)
12. Gudachari 116 (1966) (story and dialogue)
13. Farz (1967) (story)
14. The Train (1970) (screenplay)- Hindi
15. Mosagallaku Mosagadu (1971) (story and dialogues)
16. Andala Ramudu (1973) (lyrics)
17. Muthyala Muggu (1975) (lyrics)
18. Yashoda Krishna (1975) (writer)
19. Mahakavi Kshetrayya (1976) (writer)
20. Daana Veera Soora Karna (1977) (lyrics)
21. Mallepoovu (1977) (lyrics)
22. Anugraham (1978) (dialogue)
23. Kondura (The Sage from the Sea) (1978) (writer)
24. Thoorpu Velle Railu (1979) (lyrics)
25. Pelli Pusthakam (1991) (lyrics)
26. Mr. Pellam (1993) (lyrics)

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His film songs are compiled and published by his wife K. Ramalaxmi in five volumes.Arudra Cine Geethalu (1965–1970) – Vol. 3, Navvula Nadilo Puvvula Padava, Compiled by K. Ramalakshmi, Published by Vishalandhra Publishing House, Hyderabad, 2002.Arudra Cine Geethalu (1977–1998) – Vol. 5, Kurise Chirujallulo, Compiled by K. Ramalakshmi, Published by Vishalandhra Publishing House, Hyderabad, 2003.

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Category:Indian lyricists

Category:Telugu-language lyricists

Category:Telugu poets

Category:1925 births

Category:1998 deaths

Category:Telugu-language writers

Category:Andhra University alumni

Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights

Category:Indian male dramatists and playwrights

Category:Telugu-language dramatists and playwrights

Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Telugu

Category:20th-century Indian poets

Category:20th-century Indian historians

Category:Writers from Visakhapatnam

Category:Dramatists and playwrights from Andhra Pradesh

Category:Indian Marxist writers

Category:Indian atheists