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

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

Pingali, was an Indian

screenwriter A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

lyricist A lyricist is a songwriter 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 ...

, and

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays. Etymology The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...

who worked in

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

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 ...

. 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 Chakrap ...

'' (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 and Jam ...

'' (1955), and ''

Mayabazar ''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 languages, with ...

'' (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 (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers (guru ...

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 associa ...

, 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 ce ...

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...

. 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 he ...

, 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 with the ultimate aim of ending British Raj, British rule in India. It lasted from 1857 to 1947. The first nationalistic revolutionary movement for Indian independence emerged ...

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 planned urban agglomeration and a major industrial city in Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of the Kharagpur subdivision. It is the largest, most populated, multicultural and cosmopol ...

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 an Indian poet, playwright, and musician. He was known for his Hindu mythological and nationalist historical plays and songs known as ''Dwijendrageeti'' or the ''So ...

'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''. He joined

Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Em ...

and as pracharak toured the entire country and reached

Sabarmati Ashram Sabarmati Ashram (also known as Gandhi 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 Gandh ...

. 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'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 185430 November 1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. He is ...

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

Sri Krishnadevaraya Krishnadevaraya (17 January 1471 – 17 October 1529) was an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire, also known as the Karnata Empire, reigning from 1509 to 1529. He was the third monarch of the Tuluva dynasty, and is considered to be one of the g ...

, ''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, produced and directed by N. T. Rama Rao under his Ramakrishna Cine Studios banner. It stars Rama Rao, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Sivaji Ganesan, Jayapradha and Manju ...

(1977) (dialogues) # Neeti-Nijayiti (1972) (dialogues) #

Umachandi 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 ...

(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 snd B. Saroja Devi, with music composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao. Plot ...

(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 ''Satya Harischandra'' is a 1951 Nepali language film based on Raja Satya Harischandra. It was the first ever Nepali language movie. Satya Harischadra is said to have directed by DB Pariyar. It is supposed to be the first movie in Nepali languag ...

(1965) (lyrics) #

Prameelarjuneeyam ''Prameelarjuneeyam'' is a 1965 Telugu-language Hindu mythological film directed by M. Mallikarjuna Rao. It stars N. T. Rama Rao, B. Saroja Devi with music composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao. It was produced by K. Adi Babu and K. Nagumani under ...

(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: 19 ...

(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 Rao, S ...

(1962) (screen adaptation) #

Jagadeka Veeruni Katha ''Jagadeka Veeruni Katha'' () is a 1961 Indian Telugu language, Telugu-language Fantasy film, 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 ...

(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. N ...

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

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

(Telugu, 1959) (lyrics) #

Pelli Naati Pramanalu ''Pellinaati Pramanalu'' () is a 1958 Indian Telugu-language comedy drama film, produced and directed by K. V. Reddy. It stars Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Jamuna, with music composed by Ghantasala. The film was simultaneously made in Tamil as ...

(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 languages, with ...

(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 remake of the 1949 Telugu film ''Gunasundari Katha''. It was not successful at the box office. Plot Ugra Senan is the k ...

(Tamil, 1955)(Story) #

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

(1954) #

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

(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 Kameswa ...

(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 ''Sri Krishna Leelalu'' (''English:'' Krishna's Mischiefs) is a 1935 Telugu film. Famous music director S. Rajeswara Rao played the role of Bala Krishna. Plot This mythological film features the antics of the child Krishna (Rajeshwara Rao) fro ...

(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, ...

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