Quick Facts
Biography
Adivi Baapiraju (1895–1952) was a famous Telugu novelist, poet, playwright, painter and art director. He was born on October 8, 1895 at Sarepalle near Bheemavaram in West Godavari district of Andhra. He is known for his works like Gonaganna Reddy, Narayanarao, and Himabindu.
Life and Times
Baapiraju was raised in an artistic atmosphere by his parents Krishnayya and Subbamma. He obtained primary education in Bhimavaram and higher education at Narsapur and Rajamandry. He visited tourist places around the country like Ajanta, Hampi etc. and that is how his interest in arts and paintings developed.
Inspired by the likes of Bipin Chandra Pal, Baapiraju participated in the Non-cooperation movement in 1921 and he was jailed from 1922 for about one year. He remembered his experiences in jail in his book “tolakari”. After his release Baapiraju attended the Law college in Madras. He practiced law at Bhimavaram for one year and he later gave it up.
After gaining name as writer and painter Baapiraju served as the principal of Jateeya Kalasala of Machilipatnam for a brief period. In 1934 he gave up the principal ship to enter the Telugu film industry as an art director. He also directed movies like Druva Vijayam, Meerabahi, Anasuya etc. Baapiraju edited the Telugu daily Mijan Published by him from Hyderabad from 1943 to 1946.
In his versatile career Baapiraju wrote over a hundred stories. He also provided paintings for the famous Telugu poems such as Viswanatha Satyanarayana's Kinerasani Patalu and Nanduri's Enkipatalu. He also wrote many radio plays.
Baapiraju died in 1952.
Family Tree of Sri Adivi Baapiraju
Works
As Writer
- HimaBindu
- Gona Gannareddy
- Adivi Shantisree
- Anshumathi
- Madhuravani
- Narayana Rao
- Konangi
- Thoofanu
- Jajimalli
- Narudu
- Shailabala
- Bhogiraloya
- Veena
- Ragamalika
- Tarangini
- Nelathalli
- Anjali
- Narasanna Papayi
- Vadagallu
- Gaalivaana
- Rajakar
- Goduli
- Shashikala
- Tholakari
As Painter
- Sasikala
- Shabda Bramha
- Sundari Nandudu
- Bhagavatha Purushudu
- Suryadeva
- Samudragupta
- Mruthyunjaya
- Thikkana
- Paintings for 'Kinnerasani patalu' of Viswanatha Satyanarayana
Awards
- Baapirajus novel Narayanarao won the Andhra Viswakala Parishattu Award.
- He holds the title Kulapathi.