History

Early History

Any Telugu literature prior to Nannayya Bhattarakudu’s Andhra Mahabharatamu is not available, except royal grants and decrees. So, Nannayya is known as Aadi Kavi (the first poet). The advanced and well-developed language used by Nannayya suggests that this may not be the beginning of Telugu literature. Andhra Mahabharatamu was later furthered by Tikanna Somayaji (1205 – 1288) , to be finally completed by Yerrapragada (14th century). Nannaya, Tikanna and Yerrapragada are known as the Kavitraya or the three great poets of Telugu for this mammoth effort. Other such translations like Marana’s Markandeya Puranam, Ketana’s Dasakumara Charita, Yerrapragada’s Harivamsam followed.

It was almost the end of the 14th century by the time the original Telugu literature came to exist. Some of the early landmarks are Srinathudu’s Sringara Naishadham, Potana’s Dasamaskandham, Jakkana’s Vikramarka Charitra and Talapaka Timmakka’s Subhadra Kalyanam. Literary activities flourished, during the rule of Vijayanagara dynasty. Krishnadevaraya’ s time (16th century) is considered the golden age in the history of Telugu literature. The king, a poet himself, introduced the Prabandha (a kind of love poetry) in Telugu literature with his Amukta Malyada. His court had the Ashtadiggajas (literal: eight

Some critics dismiss the following period, dominated by prabandhas, as a decadent age. Of the dozens of works of the 18th to mid 19th century, Kankanti Paparaju’s Uttara Ramayana in campu style and the play Vishnumayavilasa stand out. Other genres bloomed at the same time. Innumerable Yakshaganas or indigenous dramas of song and prose works were also produced. Tyagaraja (1767 – 1847) of Tanjore composed devotional songs in Telugu, which form a big part of the repertoire of Carnatic music.

Modern History

Charles Philip Brown (1798 - 1884), was an employee of East India Company whose quest to understand the basic structure of Telugu language made him embark upon an exploration of Telugu literature. His pursuit is said to be the only present day source of the many classics in Telugu literature.

Although the first printed Telugu book was out in 1796, it was a while before the modern period in Telugu literature set in. Young men acquainted with English literature were influenced Shelly, Keats and Wordsworth, and a new type of romantic poetry called the Bhavakavithwam was born.

Kandukuri Veeresalingam (1848-1919) wrote the first novel in Telugu, Rakashekharacharitramu. Next came the vyavaharika bhasha vadam or using colloquial langauage in script. Gurajada Apparao with his close associates such as Gidugu Rammurty were primarily responsible for the beginnings of this. His 1910 work Mutyala saralu along with Kattamanci Ramalingareddy's musalamma

Various forms

• Kavyam
• Kavitha
• Satakam
• Avadhanam
• Navala
• Katha
• Natakam

Popular authors and works

• Aarudhra (ఆరుద్ర) - Samagraandhra Saahithyamu (సమగ్రాంధ్ర సాహిత్యము) (The Complete Telugu Literature)
• Abburi Varada Rajeswararao (1923 - 1993) - Varadakaalam
• Adavi Baapiraaju - Gona Gannareddy, Naarayanarao, Thuphaanu (The storm)
• Ajanta (1922 - )
• Allasaani Peddana - Manu charithra (The History of Swarochisha Manu)
• Atukuri Molla - Ramayanam
• Bammera Pothana - Bhagavatham
• Buchchibabu - Chivaraku migilaedhi? (The remnant?)
• C. Narayanareddy - Vishwambhara
• Cha So (1915 - 1993)
• Chaemakoori Venkatakavi Vijayavilaasamu
• Chalam - Chithraangi, Maidhaanam, Saavithri
• Chilakamarti Lakshmi Narasimham - Gayopaakhyaanam
• Daasaradhi - Timiramu lo samaramu (Fighting in the darkness)
• Dhurjati - Srikaalahasteesvara Satakam
• Duvvoori Raamireddy - Paanasaala
• Devulapalli Krishnasastri - Krishna pakshamu (The Brightening Fortnight)
• Gadiyaaram Venkataseshasastri - Sivabhaaratham
• Gonabuddhareddy - Ranganaatha Raamaayanamu
• Gurajada Apparao - Kanyaasulkamu
• Gurram Jashuva - Gabbilamu (The bat), Phiradousi
• Kaethana - Dasakumaara charithra
• Kandukuri Veeresalingam - Andhrakavula Charithra (The history of Andhra Poets), Raajasekhara Charithra (The history of Rajasekhara)
• Kasula Purushottama Kavi - Andhranayaka Satakamu
• Kavitrayam (Nannayya, Tikkana, Yerrapragada) - Andhra Mahaabhaarathamu (The great Mahabharatha in Telugu)
• Kethu Viswanathareddy - Kethu Viswanathareddy Kathalu
• Ko Ku - Chaduvu
• Kotikalapudi Seetamma - Ahalyabai, Sadhuraksha Satakamu, Bhaktimargamu, Satidharmamu
• Koochimanchi Timmana - Rukmini parinayamu (Rukmini's wedding)
• Korlapati Sriraamamurthy - Sreenaadhudu (The poet Srinadha)
• Leelavati - Leelavati Ganithamu
• Maarana - Maarkandaeya puraanamu
• Muddupalani - Radhika Santvanamu
• Mullapudi Venkata Ramana - Budugu
• Muppalla Ranganayakamma - Raamayana vishavŕksham
• Nandoori Subbarao - Yenki paatalu
• Nanne Choadudu - Kumaara Sambhavamu
• Nidumolu Prasuna - Saaketa Saarvabhouma (Telugu translation of Tulasidasa Ramayana)
• Palagummi Padmaraju - Bathikina collegee
• Palkuriki Somanaathudu - Basava puraanamu
• Panuganti Lakshmi Narasimham - Saakshi (The witness)
• Paravasthu Chinnayasuri - Baalavyaakaranamu
• Pingali Soorana - Kalaa poornodhayamu
• Rachakonda Viswanathasastri - Alpajeevi (The miserable)
• Ramaraaja Bhooshanudu - Vasu charithra
• Rangajamma - Mannaru Dasavilasamau
• Ravuri Bharadwaja - Paakudu raallu
• Raayaprolu Subbarao - Jada kuchchulu, Ramyaaloakam
• Sankaramanchi Satyam - Amaravati Kathalu (The stories from Amaravati)
• Sri Krishna Deva Raya - Aamukta Maalyadha
• Sripaada Subrahmanyasastri - Anubhavaalu J~naapakaalu
• Sri Sri - Mahaaprasthaanamu
• Srinatha - Haravilaasamu, Kaasikhandamu, Palnaati veeracharithra, Sŕngaara naishadhamu
• Suravaram Pratapareddy - Aandhrula Saanghika Charithra
• Tallapaka Annamacharya (1424? -1503) - Annamacharya keertanalu
• Tallapaka Timmakka - Subhadrakalyanam
• Tarigonda Venkamamba - Venkatachala Mahatmyamu, Vasista Ramamyanamu, Rajayogasaramu, Bhagavatamu, Krishnamanjari
• Tenali Raamakrisha - Paanduranga maahaatmyamu
• Thummala Seetaraamamoorthy - Baapu aathmakadha, Rashtra gaanamu
• Tikkana - Nirvachanoththara Raamayanamu -
• Timmana - Paarijaathaapaharanamu
• Tirupati Venkata Kavulu - Paandavodyoga vijayamulu, Devi bhaagavatham
• Tirumalamba - Varadambica parinayamu
• Tripuranaeni Gopichand - Merupula Marakalu
• Tripuraneni Ramaswamy Choudhury - Suthapuranamu,Karempudi kadanam,Kurukshetra sangramam,Kuppuswamy satakam, Sambhukavadha, Suthashrama geethalu', Dhoorta manava, Khooni, Bhagavadgita, Rana Pratap, Kondaveeti pathanam
• Unnava Lakshminaarayana - Maala pilla
• Viswanatha Satyanarayana - Cheliyalikatta, Kalpavrukshamu, Kinnerasaani Paatalu, , Srimadraamaayana kalpavŕkshamu, Swargaaniki Nichchenalu, Vaeyipadagalu, Aekaveera
• Vemana - Vemana Satakam
• Yerrapragada - Harivansamu, Nrusimhapuranam

See also

Telugu language