Aluri Chakrapani

Aluri Chakrapani or Aluri Venkata Subbarao (August 5, 1908 – September 24, 1975) was an Indian film multilingual writer, producer and director known for his works in predominantly in Telugu cinema and he won two Filmfare Awards for Telugu films. He was also notable for his association with Vijaya Vauhini Studios, then one of the largest studios in Asia and was a partner of Vijaya Productions along with B. Nagi Reddy and founder of Chandamama children magazine.

Aluri was born in Itanagar village near Tenali, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India, in a middle class agricultural family of Kamma Naidu community.

He learnt Hindi under the tutelage of the well-known author Vraj Nandan Sharma. Later, he taught himself Sanskrit and English and soon mastered both the languages.

Bengali literature

Chakrapani fell ill with Tuberculosis in 1932 and had to stay at Madanapalle sanatorium for medical treatment. He learnt Bengali during that time from another inmate recuperating from the illness. Initially, he started translating novels from Bengali to Telugu. His translations of the novels of Sharat Chandra Chatterji became so popular in Telugu, the readers would not believe that the originals were written in Bengali language.

He was closely associated with Nagi Reddy, together they formed the Vijaya Vauhini duo. With his creative mind, he started writing short stories and novels in Telugu. He scripted the film Dharmapatni in 1940 for 'Famous Films', Mumbai. Well-known Telugu film producer B. N. Reddy invited him to Chennai to write the script for Swarga Seema. At this time, he came in contact with Nagi Reddy, became a partner and made movies under Vijaya-Vauhini banner. Together, they made successful movies like Patala Bhairavi, Maya Bazar, Gundamma Katha, Missamma, Shavukaru, and Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu that are still popular with Telugu speaking people. Both made 35 films in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Odia and Hindi languages.

• National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada – Maduve Madinodu (1965)
• Filmfare Best Film Award (Telugu) - Maya Bazaar (1957)
• Filmfare Best Film Award (Telugu) - Gundamma Katha (1962)

• Dharmapatni (Telugu, 1941) (dialogue) (debut)
• Dharmapatni (Tamil, 1941) (dialogue)
• Swargaseema (1945) (dialogue) (story)
• Shavukaru (1950) (writer)
• Pelli Chesi Choodu (1952) (writer)
• Chandraharam (1954) (writer)
• Guna Sundari (1955) (Producer)
• Missamma (1955) (writer)
• Missiamma (1955) (writer)
• Maya Bazaar (1957/II) (screen adaptation)
• Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu (1958) (adaptation)
• Rechukka Pragatichukka (1959) (screen adaptation)
• Gundamma Katha (1962) (story)
• Manithan Maravillai (1962) (screen adaptation)
• Julie (1975) (screen adaptation)
• Sri Rajeswari vilas Coffee Club (1976) (writer)
• Swayamvar (1980) (story)

• Sri Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club (1976)
• Julie (1975) (Nagi Reddi-Chakrapani)
• Ganga Manga (1973)
• Ram aur Shyaam (1967)
• Maduve Madinodu (Kannada) (1965)(Nagi Reddi-Chakrapani)
• Gundamma Katha (1962)
• Manithan Maravillai (1962)
• Rechukka Pagatichukka (1959)
• Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu (1958)
• Maya Bazaar (1957/II)
• Missamma (1955)
• Chandraharam (1954)
• Pelli Chesi Choodu (1952)
• Shavukaru (1950)
• Patala Bhairavi (1951)

• Arasa Kattili (1967)
• Manithan Maravillai (1962)

Chakrapani came up with the idea of a story book for kids and children, and thus Chandamama was born. Chakrapani made Chandamama popular not only in Telugu language but in ten other Indian languages. He started in 1934 the monthly publication of Yuva magazine from Chennai which was later shifted to Hyderabad. Well-known writer Kodavatiganti Kutumba Rao was a partner in this venture.

Kodavatiganti Kutumba Rao, a very close friend of Chakrapani and a literary colossus in Telugu Literature, edited it for 28 years, till his death in August 1980. The first edition of Chandamama was released in July, 1947. Chakrapani was the force behind magazine. His vision, perception and understanding of the target readership brought name and fame to the magazine.