Pingali Nagendra Rao (29 December 1901 – 6 May 1971), known mononymously by his

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

Pingali, was an Indian

screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting. These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television ...

lyricist A lyricist is a writer who writes lyrics (the spoken words), as opposed to a composer, who writes the song's music which may include but not limited to the melody, harmony, arrangement and accompaniment. Royalties A lyricist's income derives ...

, and

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 ...

who worked in

Telugu cinema Telugu cinema, also known as Tollywood, is the segment of Cinema of India, Indian cinema dedicated to the production of Film, motion pictures in the Telugu language, widely spoken in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Based in Film N ...

and

Telugu theatre Telugu theatre is Indian theatre in the Telugu language, based in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Gurajada Apparao wrote the play, '' Kanyasulkam'' in 1892, which is often considered the greatest play in the Telugu language.20th Ce ...

. Famous for his witty and romantic lyrics, he also wrote dialogues for many films. ''

Pathala Bhairavi ''Pathala Bhairavi'' () is a 1951 Indian fantasy film directed by K. V. Reddy who co-wrote the film with Pingali and Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. Shot simultaneously in Telugu and Tamil languages, the film was produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakra ...

'' (1951), ''

Missamma ''Missamma'' () is a 1955 Indian Telugu-language romantic comedy film directed by L. V. Prasad. It was produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani on Vijaya Productions banner. The film stars N. T. Rama Rao, Savitri, Akkineni Nageswara Rao an ...

'' (1955), and ''

Mayabazar ''Mayabazar'' () is a 1957 Indian epic film, epic Hindu mythological film directed by K. V. Reddy. It was produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani (filmmaker), Chakrapani under their banner, Vijaya Vauhini Studios, Vijaya Productions. The film w ...

'' (1957) are some of his best known works for story, script and song lyrics. Pingali is famous for his coining of new and funny words and phrases in Telugu such as ''Dhimbaka'', ''Dingari'', ''Gimbali''.

Life sketch

He was born in a Telugu

Brahmin Brahmin (; ) is a ''Varna (Hinduism), varna'' (theoretical social classes) within Hindu society. The other three varnas are the ''Kshatriya'' (rulers and warriors), ''Vaishya'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''Shudra'' (labourers). Th ...

family on 29 December 1901 to Gopalakrishnayya and Mahalaxmamma in

Rajam Rajam is a town in Vizianagaram District of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a nagar panchayat and the headquarters of Rajam mandal. It is situated at a distance of 51 km from the district headquarters. The place has nostalgic asso ...

, near

Bobbili Bobbili is a town in Vizianagaram district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Geography Bobbili is located at . It has an average elevation of 103 metres (337 feet). History The town of Bobbili was founded during the 17th c ...

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (ISO 15919, ISO: , , AP) is a States and union territories of India, state on the East Coast of India, east coast of southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, seventh-largest state and th ...

. Because most of his relatives are settled in

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 ...

, their family migrated there. He did a course in Mechanical Engineering from the Andhra Jateeya Kalasala, Machilipatnam. He joined

Indian independence movement The Indian independence movement was a series of historic events in South Asia with the ultimate aim of ending British Raj, British colonial rule. It lasted until 1947, when the Indian Independence Act 1947 was passed. The first nationalistic ...

and wrote ''Janma Bhoomi'' as his first literary work. He was arrested for the same. He worked as a teacher for some time and later joined

Bengal Nagpur Railway The Bengal Nagpur Railway was one of the companies which pioneered development of the railways in eastern and central India. It was succeeded first by Eastern Railway and subsequently by South Eastern Railway. History The opening of the ...

Kharagpur Kharagpur () is a semi- planned urban agglomeration and a major industrial city in the Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of the Kharagpur subdivision and the largest city of the district. It is located 1 ...

for two years. He was union leader of the labour association there. During this period, he translated

Dwijendralal Ray Dwijendralal Ray (19 July 1863 – 17 May 1913), also known as D. L. Ray, was a Bengali poet, playwright, and musician. He was known for his Hindu mythological and nationalist historical plays and songs known as '' Dwijendrageeti'' or the ''Songs ...

's ''Mebar Patan'' (1922) as ''Mevadu Rajyapatanam'' and ''Pashani'' (1923) from Bengali into Telugu language. His independent work during the same time was ''Jebunnisa''. All the three dramas were published in ''

Krishna Patrika Krishna Patrika is an Indian Telugu-language newspaper. It was founded in 1902 by Konda Venkatappayya and Dasu Narayana Rao as a weekly magazine. Mutnuri Krishna Rao was the editor of the publication from 1907 until his death in 1945. History ...

''. He joined

Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party, or simply the Congress, is a political parties in India, political party in India with deep roots in most regions of India. Founded on 28 December 1885, it was the first mo ...

and as pracharak toured the entire country and reached

Sabarmati Ashram Sabarmati Ashram is located in the Sabarmati suburb of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, adjoining the Ashram Road, on the banks of the River Sabarmati, from the town hall. This was one of the many residences of Mahatma Gandhi who lived at Sabarmati (Gujar ...

. He came back to Machilipatnam and joined Indian Dramatic Company of Devarakonda Venkata Subbarao in 1924 as writer and secretary. He wrote '' Vindyarani'' play in 1928 based on the ''Dubois of Padua'' of

Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 185430 November 1900) was an Irish author, poet, and playwright. After writing in different literary styles throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular and influential playwright ...

, ''Naa Raju'' play based on the history of

Sri Krishnadevaraya Krishnadevaraya (17 January 1471 – 17 October 1529) was emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1509 to 1529 and the third ruler of the Tuluva dynasty. Widely regarded as one of the greatest rulers in Indian history, he presided over t ...

, ''Maro Prapancham'' social play and ''Rani Samyukta'' historical play. Pingali was considered a magician with words. He died on 6 May 1971. All of Pingali's plays were reprinted recently in a book titled ''Pingaleeyam''.

Filmography

#''

Chanakya Chandragupta ''Chanakya Chandragupta'' is a 1977 Indian Telugu-language historical drama film directed and produced by N. T. Rama Rao under the banner of Ramakrishna Cine Studios. The film stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Rama Rao, Sivaji Ganesan, Jayaprad ...

'' (1977) (dialogues) #''

Neeti-Nijayiti ''Neeti-Nijayiti'' () is a 1972 Indian Telugu-language comedy film directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao Singeetam Srinivasa Rao (born 21 September 1931) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, composer, and actor. He is widely re ...

'' (1972) (dialogues) #''

Uma Chandi Gowri Sankarula Katha ''Uma Chandi Gowri Sankarula Katha'' () is a 1968 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film directed by K. V. Reddy. The film was produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani under the Vijaya Productions banner. It stars N. T. Rama Rao and B. Saro ...

'' (1968) (lyrics) #''

Bhagya Chakramu ''Bhagya Chakramu'' () is a 1968 Telugu-language film, directed by K. V. Reddy, and produced by P. S. Reddy under the Jayanthi Pictures banner. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, B. Saroja Devi and music composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao. Plot Once u ...

'' (1968) (lyrics) # C. I. D. (1965) #''

Srikakula Andhra Maha Vishnu Katha ''Srikakula Andhra Maha Vishnu Katha'' is a 1966 Indian Telugu-language historical drama film, based on the life of Andhra Vishnu, produced by Daggubati Lakshminarayana Chowdary under the Sri Sambhu Films banner and directed by A. K. Sekhar. It ...

'' (lyrics) # ''Satya Harischandra'' (1965) (lyrics) #'' Prameelarjuneeyam'' (1965) (lyrics) #''

Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham ''Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu'' () is a 1963 Indian Telugu-language Hindu mythological film, produced and directed by K. V. Reddy under the Jayanthi Pictures banner.Naati 101 Chitralu, S. V. Rama Rao, Kinnera Publications, Hyderabad, 2006, pp: ...

'' (1963) (adaptation) # ''Mahamantri Timmarusu'' (1962) (story, dialogues and lyrics) #''

Gundamma Katha ''Gundamma Katha'' () is a 1962 Indian Telugu-language comedy drama film directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao and co-produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani under their banner Vijaya Productions. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara ...

'' (1962) (screen adaptation) #''

Jagadeka Veeruni Katha ''Jagadekaveeruni Katha'' () is a 1961 Indian Telugu-language fantasy swashbuckler film produced and directed by K. V. Reddy under the Vijaya Productions banner. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, B. Saroja Devi with music composed by Pendyala Nagesw ...

'' (1961) #''

Mahakavi Kalidasu ''Mahakavi Kalidasu'' is a 1960 Indian Telugu-language biographical film directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao and written by Pingali. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Sriranjani Jr., with music composed by Pendyala. It was produced by K ...

'' (Telugu, 1960) (story, dialogues and screenplay) #''

Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu ''Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu'' () is a 1959 Indian Telugu-language comedy drama film directed and co-written by L. V. Prasad. The film was produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani of Vijaya Productions; the latter co-wrote its script with Prasad ...

'' (Telugu, 1959) (lyrics) # ''Pelli Naati Pramanalu'' (1958) (story, dialogues and lyrics) #''

Maya Bazaar ''Mayabazar'' () is a 1957 Indian epic Hindu mythological film directed by K. V. Reddy. It was produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakrapani under their banner, Vijaya Productions. The film was shot simultaneously in Telugu and Tamil, with a fe ...

'' (Telugu, 1957) (story, dialogues and lyrics) #''

'' (Tamil, 1957) (screen adaptation) #''

'' (1955) (story, dialogues, lyrics) #''

Guna Sundari ''Guna Sundari'' or ''Gunasundari'' is a 1955 Indian Tamil-language film starring Gemini Ganesan and Savitri. The film was a remake of the 1949 Telugu film ''Gunasundari Katha''. It was not successful at the box office. Plot Ugra Senan is th ...

'' (Tamil, 1955)(Story) #''

Chandraharam ''Chandraharam'' is a 1954 Indian swashbuckler film directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao in his debut. It was produced by Nagi Reddy- Chakrapani under the Vijaya Productions banner. The film, a Telugu-Tamil bilingual, stars N. T. Rama Rao, ...

'' (1954) #''

Patala Bhairavi ''Pathala Bhairavi'' () is a 1951 Indian fantasy film directed by K. V. Reddy who co-wrote the film with Pingali and Kamalakara Kameswara Rao. Shot simultaneously in Telugu and Tamil languages, the film was produced by Nagi Reddi and Chakra ...

'' (1951) (dialogue) (story) (lyrics) #''

Gunasundari Katha ''Gunasundari Katha'' () is a 1949 Indian Telugu language fantasy film produced and directed by K. V. Reddy, starring Sriranjani, Kasturi Siva Rao, Santha Kumari. The script was written by Pingali Nagendra Rao, K. V. Reddy, and Kamalakara ...

'' (1949) (story, dialogues and lyrics) #''

Vindhyarani ''Vindhyarani'' () is a 1948 Indian Telugu-language film directed by C. Pullayya. It is a film based on a drama written by Pingali Nagendra Rao. Pushpavalli played the title role of Vindhyarani. Plot Durjaya kills his elder brother Maharaja Jay ...

'' (1948) (dialogue) (story) #''Bhale Pelli'' (1941) (dialogue) (story) #'' Sri Krishna Leelalu'' (1935) (dialogues)

References

External links

A Website Dedicated To Sri Pingali Nagendra Rao
* {{Authority control

Pingali Nagendrarao Pingali Nagendra Rao (29 December 1901 – 6 May 1971), known mononymously by his surname Pingali, was an Indian screenwriter, lyricist, and playwright who worked in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. Famous for his witty and romantic lyrics, he a ...

Telugu screenwriters Indian lyricists Telugu-language lyricists Telugu poets 20th-century Indian poets People from Srikakulam district Indian male poets Screenwriters from Andhra Pradesh Indian male screenwriters 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights 20th-century Indian male writers People from Uttarandhra 20th-century Indian screenwriters

Life sketch

Filmography

See also

References

External links