Kalyanam Raghuramayya (1901–1975), popularly known as Eelapata Raghuramayya, was an Indian actor, and thespian known for his works in Telugu cinema, 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 Cent ...

. A recipient of the

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (IPA: Saṅgīta Nāṭaka Akādamī Puraskāra), also known as the Akademi Puraskar, is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi Sangeet Natak Akademi (The National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama in Englis ...

, and the Padmashri, He was known for the roles of Krishna,

Dushyantha Dushyanta ( sa, दुष्यन्त, translit=Duṣyanta) is a king of the Chandravamsha (Lunar) dynasty featured in Hindu literature. He is the husband of Shakuntala and the father of Bharata. He appears in the Mahabharata and in Kalidas ...

, Narada etc. He performed those roles for about 60 years. He indulged in elaborate Raga Alapana, based on different

raga A ''raga'' or ''raag'' (; also ''raaga'' or ''ragam''; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a musical mode, melodic mode. The ''rāga'' is a unique and central feature of the classical Indian music tradit ...

s while rendering padyams.Article in Eenadu One of the finest method actors, he had the ability to sing padyams and songs through whistle, by putting his finger in mouth and producing the whistle or flute sound (meaning Eela in Telugu). He has acted in various dramas and gave more than 20,000 stage performances. He was called the "Nightingale of the Stage" by Rabindranath Tagore.

Early life

He was born in Suddapalli village of

Guntur district Guntur district is one of the twenty six districts in the Coastal Andhra region of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The administrative seat of the district is located at Guntur, the largest city of the district in terms of area and with a po ...

and named as Venkata Subbayya. He was popular during childhood days in playing Raghurama, hence named as Raghuramaiah by

Kasinadhuni Nageswara Rao Kasinadhuni Nageswararao, better known as Nageswara Rao Pantulu, (1 May 1867 – 11 April 1938) was an Indian journalist, nationalist, politician, businessman, and a staunch supporter of Khaddar movement. He participated in the Indian independe ...

Early career

He entered Telugu cinema in 1933 in the film "Prudhvi Putra". It is the fifth talkie film in Telugu cinema industry. This is the first Telugu film produced by Telugu person viz. Pothina Srinivasa Rao. He acted as Krishna in many films including '' Sri Krishna Rayabaram'' (1960) and in the film ''Chintamani''.

Personal life

He married Savitri, second daughter of Rohini Venkata Subbayya and Sitamma in 1938 at Bapatla. She inaugurated the statue of her husband Raghuramayya at Chebrolu, Guntur district on 5 March 2013. At the age of 92 years i.e. on 8 December 2014 she died due to old age at Vijayawada. They have only one daughter viz. Thota Satyavathi, Son-in-law Thota Parvateeswara Rao. Their grand children are Dr. T.V.S. Gopal, Chintala Ratna, and Gangisetty Raja. His brother-in-law Rohini Venkaiah, Commercial Tax Officer (Retd.) and his wife Dr. Rohini Venkata Sundara Varada Rajeswari, Famous Devotional Writer of several books and Member Sree Hampi Virupaksha Vidyaranya Maha Samsthanam and their son Rohini Mahesh, Devotional Writer of several articles and Member Sree Hampi Virupaksha Vidyaranya Maha Samsthanam date of birth and his son Rohini Harish date of birth and Raghramaiah's date of death is same i.e. 24 February. He toured Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore with a drama troupe in 1972.

Death and popularity

He died of a heart attack in 1975 at the age of 75 years. He was called the "Nightingale of the Stage" by Rabindranath Tagore. A well sheltered bronze statue of him was installed in his honor at Suddapalli village, his birthplace, on 14 February 2014 by his eldest brother's son Sri. Kalyanam Narasimha Rao, Retd. Senior Manager, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Hyderabad and the statue was inaugurated by Sri. Mandali Budda Prasad, Chairman Official Languages, Andhra Pradesh.

Filmography

# ''Pruthvi Putra'' (1933) # ''Bhakta Kuchela'' (1935) # ''Lanka Dahanam'' (1936) # ''Rukmini Kalyanam'' (1937) # ''Pasupathastram'' (1939) # ''

Apavadu ''Apavadu'' ( te, అపవాదు; English translation: Scandal) is a 1941 Telugu Drama film directed by Gudavalli Ramabrahmam. The plot Prakash is a revenue inspector who happily lives with his wife Kamala, sister Kantham and son Kittu. Ven ...

'' (1941) # ''Talliprema'' (1941) # ''Gollabhama'' (1947) # ''Madalasa'' (1948) # ''Maya Rambha'' (1950) # ''Mayapilla'' (1951) # ''Prapancham'' (1953) # ''Sati Sakkubai'' (1954) as Lord Krishna # ''Sri Krishna Tulabharam'' (1955/I) as

Sri Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one o ...

# '' Chintamani'' (1956) # ''Sri Krishna Maya'' (1958) # '' Sri Krishna Rayabaram'' (1960) # ''Nagarjuna'' (1961/I) # '' Usha Parinayam'' (1961) as Lord Krishna # '' Dakshayagnam'' (1962/I) as Narada # ''Valmiki'' (1963/I) #''Somavara Vratha Mahatyam'' (1963) # ''Mohini Bhasmasura'' (1966) #

Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna ''Sri Sri Sri Maryada Ramanna'' is a 1967 Telugu-language film produced by actor Padmanabham and directed by K. Hemambharadhara Rao. The film stars Padmanabham in the title role along with Geetanjali, Mukkamala, Rajanala, Prabhakar Reddy, R ...

(1967)

Awards

;National Honors *

in 1973 ;Civilian Honors *He was awarded Padmashri by Government of India in 1975.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Raghuramaiah, Kalyanam Telugu male actors Andhra University alumni Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award People from Guntur district Indian male film actors Indian male stage actors Male actors in Tamil cinema Male actors from Andhra Pradesh 1901 births 1975 deaths Male actors in Telugu theatre 20th-century Indian male actors