Bellary Raghava

Bellary Raghava
Born	2 August 1880 Anantapur, Andhra pradesh, India
Died	April 16, 1946(1946-04-16) (aged 65)
Occupation	Thespian actor dramatist Playwright

Bellary Raghava (బళ్ళారి రాఘవ) born Tadipatri Raghavacharyulu was an Indian playwright, thespian and film actor, known for his works predominantly in Telugu theatre and cinema ^[1][2] His uncle Dharmavaram Ramakrishnamacharyulu, was a pioneering dramatist in Telugu, initiated him on the stage. He was also associated with another dramatist from Bellary, Kolachalam Srinivasa Rao. His students include female artists like Sarojini Kopparapu, Padmavati Kommuri, Annapurna Kakinada, and male artists like Vasudevarao K.S., Apparao Basavaraju and Banda Kanakalingeshwara Rao.^[3]

Early life

He was born on 2 August 1880. He received his early education at Bellary, He finished his Metric in Ballari High School and graduated from Christian College, Madras. He practiced law after graduating from Madras Law College in 1905. From the age of 12, He founded Shakespeare Club in Ballari and played Shakespeare dramas. Raghava portrayed main characters in various dramas in Sreenivasarao Kolachalam's group called Sumanohara in Bangalore. Raghava has founded the Amateur Dramatic Association of Bangalore in 1909.

Notable works

Harischandra, Padukapattabhishekamu, Savitri, Brihannala, Ramaraju charitra, Ramadasu, Tappevaridi, Saripadani sangatulu, etc. where his noted dramas. He visited various countries like Sri Lanka, England, France, Germany and Switzerland and gave seminars and lectures on Indian drama art. He advocated and developed the naturalistic style in acting. He was very particular that women should always play the female roles on the stage. In 1927 he went to England and took part in English dramas with Laurence Olivier and Charles Laughton. His presentation of Tappevaridi by Rajamannar in 1930 in Madras, has received critical reception as a momentous event heralding a new era in Telugu theater.^[1]

Cinema

The arrival of the cinema, has effected modern theatre that Raghava envisaged. However, In 1936, he played Duryodhana in H. M. Reddy's Draupadi Maanasamrakshanam. He then acted in Raithu Bidda, Chandika, etc., and has garnered critical acclaim.^[4]

Death

He breathed his last on 16 April 1946. The Ballari Raghava Puraskaram was instituted in his memory and is awarded to talented artists who contributed to drama and cinema.^[5] In 1981, a postal stamp was released in his memory.^[6]

References