Aatreya

Acharya Aatreya was an excellent poet, playwright, lyricist and screenwriter, someone irreplaceable in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. This genius, who was also a recipient of the state Nandi Award for ‘Best Lyricist' for his outstanding lyrics in “Andamaina Lokamami”, was born in Sullurpeta, Andhra Pradesh. His plays started doing the rounds right from when he was a student. However, the love for his country was unfathomable to the extent that he quitted his school to join the Quit India Movement.

He had been imprisoned for the same, and after his release had worked as a clerk as well as the assistant editor of the journal ‘Zamin Raithu'. He didn’t let go off his zeal to presage social transformation. This is evident from ten of his plays, jointly titled as ‘Natakams’ and later fifteen of ‘Natikas’. These play deal with relevant themes like “fear”, “Universal Peace', with the inclusion of the stalwarts like Buddha, Ashoka, Parivartam, Edureeta and Tirupati.

Like mentioned earlier, he had been an unforgettable figure in the Telugu film industry. His initial songs, as early as in 1957, “Raka Raka Vacchavu Chandamama” from the film ‘Ardhang”, would still initiate sufficient applause. His biography is indeed a biography of beautiful songs! His 1962 song “Silalapai Silipaalu Chikkinaru” was as successful as his 1968 song “Eetotalo Virabuseno Eepuvvu”. Even after his death in 1989, he is still remembered for his songs like “Sarigamalu Galagalalu” and “Velapala Ledu Kurralluataku”. In fact, he was awarded the Doctorate by the B.R. Ambedkar Open University of Hyderabad for his memorable contribution.

Aatreya Family Tree (Infographic Family Tree)