Adivi Baapiraju (1895–1952) was an Indian

polymath A polymath or polyhistor is an individual whose knowledge spans many different subjects, known to draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific problems. Polymaths often prefer a specific context in which to explain their knowledge, ...

, who was a novelist in

Telugu language Telugu (; , ) is a Dravidian languages, Dravidian language native to the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where it is also the official language. Spoken by about 96 million people (2022), Telugu is the most widely spoken member of ...

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes play (theatre), plays, which are a form of drama that primarily consists of dialogue between Character (arts), characters and is intended for Theatre, theatrical performance rather than just Readin ...

, painter, art director, and anti-colonial nationalist known for his works in Telugu theater, and cinema.Encyclopedia of Indian Literature Sahitya Akademi He is known for his literary works such as ''Gona Ganna Reddy'', ''Narayana Rao'', and ''Himabindu''.

Life

Baapiraju was born on 8 October 1895, at Sarepalle, near

Bhimavaram Bhimavaram is a city and headquarters of West Godavari district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Bhimavaram mandal in Bhimavaram revenue division. It is a part of Eluru Urban Development Authorit ...

West Godavari The West Godavari district is a coastal district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh with an administrative headquarters in Bhimavaram. As of the 2011 Census of India, the district has an area of and a population of 1,779,935. It is bounded ...

district of

Andhra Andhra Pradesh (ISO: , , AP) is a state on the east coast of southern India. It is the seventh-largest state and the tenth-most populous in the country. Telugu is the most widely spoken language in the state, as well as its official lang ...

. He obtained primary education in Bhimavaram and higher education at Narsapur and

Rajamahendravaram Rajahmundry ( ), officially Rajamahendravaram, is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and district headquarters of East Godavari district. It is the fifth most populated city in the state. During British rule, the district of Rajahmu ...

. He visited tourist places around the country, such as Ajanta, Hampi, etc., and that is how his interest in arts and paintings developed. Inspired by the likes of

Bipin Chandra Pal Bipin Chandra Pal ( ; 7 November 1858 – 20 May 1932) was an Indian nationalist, writer, orator, social reformer and freedom fighter. He was one third of the " Lal Bal Pal" triumvirate. He was one of the main architects of the Swadeshi move ...

, Baapiraju participated in the

Non-cooperation movement Non-cooperation movement may refer to: * Non-cooperation movement (1919–1922), during the Indian independence movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi against British rule * Non-cooperation movement (1971), a movement in East Pakistan * Non-cooperatio ...

in 1921 and was jailed in 1922 for about a year. He remembered his experiences in jail in his book "tolakari". After his release Baapiraju attended the Law college in Madras. He practiced law in Bhimavaram for a year and later gave it up. Adavi Baapiraju Statue at RK Beach 01

Baapiraju served for a brief period as the principal of Jateeya Kalasala of

Machilipatnam Machilipatnam (), also known as Masulipatnam and Bandar (), is a city in Krishna district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipal corporation and the administrative headquarters of Krishna district. It is also the Tehsil, mandal ...

. In 1934 he gave up that job to enter the Telugu film industry as an art director. He directed Dhruva Vijayam, Meerabhai, and Anasuya. Baapiraju edited the Telugu daily ''Mijan'', published from

Hyderabad Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India. With an average altitude of , much ...

from 1943 to 1946. Baapiraju wrote over a hundred stories. He also provided paintings for

Viswanatha Satyanarayana Viswanatha Satyanarayana (10 September 1895 – 18 October 1976) was a 20th-century Telugu writer. His works included poetry, novels, dramatic play, short stories and speeches, covering a wide range of subjects such as analysis of his ...

's ''Kinerasani Patalu'' and Nanduri's ''Enkipatalu''. Baapiraju died in 1952.

Works

As writer

* ''HimaBindu'' * ''Gona Gannareddy'' * ''Adivi Santisree'' * ''Ansumathi'' * ''Ottunga Srungam'' * ''Narayana Rao'' * ''Konangi'' * ''Thoofanu'' * ''Jajimalli'' * ''Narudu'' * ''Sailabala'' * ''Bhogiraloya'' * ''Veena'' * ''Ragamalika'' * ''Tarangini'' * ''Nelathalli'' * ''Anjali'' * ''Narasanna Papayi'' * ''Vadagallu'' * ''Gaalivaana'' * ''Rajakar'' * ''Goduli'' * ''Sasikala'' * ''Tholakari''

As painter

* ''Sasikala'' * ''Sabdha Bramha'' * ''Sundari Nandudu'' * ''Bhagavatha Purushudu'' * ''Suryadeva'' * ''Samudragupta'' * ''Mruthyunjaya'' * ''Thikkana'' * Paintings for 'Kinnerasani patalu' of

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baapiraju, Adavi 1895 births 1952 deaths Telugu writers People from West Godavari district 20th-century Indian poets Novelists from Andhra Pradesh 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights 20th-century Indian novelists Painters from Andhra Pradesh Indian male painters 20th-century Indian painters Indian male dramatists and playwrights Indian male novelists Indian male poets Dramatists and playwrights from Andhra Pradesh 20th-century Indian male writers 20th-century Indian male artists