GK of Telugu Literature

August 15, 2016 November 10, 2023

Important General Knowledge facts about Telugu Literature are as follows

Nannaya Bhattaraka is the earliest known (11th century) Telugu author. He was one of the three authors who translated the Sanskrit Mahabharat to Andhra Mahabharatamu, a Telugu retelling of the epic story. He is also known as Adi Kavi in recognition of his great literary work.
He also wrote the first Grammar work in Telugu called Andhra Shabdha Chintamani. At the same time, it is thought that the well developed language of Nannaya suggests that Telugu literature may have developed earlier to him, however, no literature is available to prove that.
Nannaya along with Tikkana and Yerrapragada are known as Kavitrayam of Telugu Language, who translated the great epic Mahabharata into Telugu.

Krishna Deva Raya (reign 1509–1529 ) was an Emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire. His times are known as the golden age of Telugu literature. The period of the Empire is known as “Prabandha Period,” because of the quality of the prabandha literature produced during this time. Eight poets known as Astadiggaja were part of his court. These eight poets were the eight pillars of his literary assembly.
Among these eight poets Allasani Peddana is considered to be the greatest and is given the title of Andhra Kavita Pitamaha (the father of Telugu poetry). Another one, Tenali Rama is one of the most popular folk figures in India today, a quick-witted courtier ready even to outwit the all-powerful emperor.

Tenali Ramakrishna , popular as Tenali Rama and Vikata Kavi, was another sixteenth century court poet of the Vijayanagara empire and also one of the Ashtadiggajas. He hailed from Tenali in Guntur District. He is noted for brilliance and wit and for mocking other poets and great personalities. His best literary work is Panduranga Mahatyamu.
He took the theme for Panduranga Mahatyam from the Skanda Purana and enhanced it with many stories about the devotees of God Vitthala (Panduranga)

Tyagaraja (1767–1847) of Tanjore composed a big repertoire of devotional songs in Telugu, which are now sung in Carnatic Music. This, his role in the deveopment of Carnatic Music is immense.
He composed thousands of devotional compositions, most in praise of Lord Rama , many of which remain popular today. He also wrote two musical plays viz. Prahalada Bhakti Vijayam and the Nauka Charitam.

Tirupati Venkata Kavulu refers to the Telugu poet duo Divakarla Tirupati Sastry (1872–1919) and Chellapilla Venkata Sastry (1870–1950). This twin poets are acclaimed as harbingers of modern poetry in Telugu.
Several of their plays, especially pandavodyogavijayalu have been extremely popular with many drama clubs and audiences across Andhra Pradesh.

Viswanatha Satyanarayana (1895 – 1976), popularly known as the Kavi Samraat was the first Jnanpith award winner Telugu writer. He was a disciple of the Tirupati Venkata Kavulu.
His works included poetry, novels, drama, short stories and speeches, covering a wide range of subjects such as analysis of history, philosophy, religion, sociology, political science, linguistics, psychology and consciousness studies, epistemology, aesthetics and spiritualism.