A. N. Prahlada Rao (born 24 July 1953) is an Indian author and Kannada crossword writer Crossword who has created the highest number of crosswords in India.
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He has created 26,000 crosswords in the Kannada language for Kannada daily newspapers and periodicals with 650,000 clues. He is also a writer and poet. A.N. Prahlada Rao was born at Abbani in the Kolar district of Karnataka in India. He started his career as a journalist. He was the founder Editor of HONNUDI the first regional district daily publishing editorial every day. He joined the Information Department in 1983.
He started writing Kannada crosswords in 1984. A.N.Prahlada Rao is probably the only man in the country to possess the unique achievement of having created more than 26,000 crosswords in a regional language—Kannada. And the range of his subjects vary from one end of the spectrum to the other -- cinema, science, crime, mythology, women and child issues, culinary, and of course, the general crossword. Two major daily news papers i.e. Vijaya Karnataka and Samyukta Karnataka and mangala aragini weeklies and balamangala fortnightly carrying his crosswords daily in addition to some of the major periodicals publishing in Kannada language. Every day A. N. Prahlada Rao creates 3 crosswords. His crosswords also published in Kannadaprabha, Aragini, Mangala, Balamangala, Chitra, Priyanka, Karmaveera, Tharanga, Vijayachitra, Vanita, Janapada, Vignanasangati, Policenews, Policefile, Sanchu, Udayaraga, Dehalivarte, Rangavalli, Hotel Patrike, Cheluve, Chitratara, Kandayavarte, Vydyaloka, Kannadamma, Udayakala and some more magazines.
He has contributed his crosswords to more than 40 kannada periodicles in last 25 years. He also belongs to a duggaraja family of kings in Abbani with a rich history.
The first-ever volumes of Kannada crossword puzzles compiled by A.N. Prahlad Rao were launched on 14 February 2008. Three of the five Kannada crossword books are based on general knowledge, one on Kannada cinema, and another one for children.
A. N. Prahlada Rao is an author of a book named Bangarada manushya, the chronicle of Dr. Rajakumar, a popular Kannada film actor. The book Bangarada Manushya surmises the achievements of Rajkumar both on and off the screen. This book is a referral volume on Kannada film industry, for it is rich in details of the growth and evolution of the Kannada Film Industry. The book released at Washington D.C., New Jersey and also at Kuwite.
His second book, Belliterey Belagidavaru, (Gems of the Silver Screen) contains profiles of 115 film stars of the Kannada silver screen with a foreword by director Girish Kasaravalli, who is also profiled. The book features everyone from patriarch Gubbi Veeranna to the golden oldies of the black-and-white era who reinvented the stage on celluloid, making the new medium a craze for first generation film-goers.
The English translation of his book 'Bangarada manushya' named Dr. Rajkumar: The Inimitable Actor With A Golden Voice was released in New Jersey, United States on 10 May 2008. The same book was released in London, England by Edward Thamson, Senator during the month of August 2008.
The late thespian Rajkumar, who made Kannadigas proud with his brilliant acting skills and his golden voice, the book dedicated to him, in English. Dr. Rajkumar: The Inimitable Actor With A Golden Voice was released by the actor’s wife Parvathamma Rajkumar in May 2008. She handed over the first copy to Professor K.S.Nissar Ahemed the famous poet and Padmshree Awardee. The book, originally written in Kannada by A.N. Prahalada Rao, and titled Bangarada Manushya (The Golden Man), was first released in 2005 in the presence of Rajkumar himself. It ran into three editions and sold over 15,000 copies. The book has been translated into English by literary critic C.N. Ramachandran and journalist Alladi Jayashri. Published by Sapna Book House, Bangalore. The book closely examines Dr. Rajkumar’s films, dividing them into those that dealt with mythology, on novels and the social dramas. It also explores his role of a singing star, and includes photographs from his films and other achievements.
To mark the completion of 75 years of Kannada film industry, the book has been released in New Jersey, America on May 10, 2008 sponsored by Brindavana, the Kannada Association of New Jersey. On this occasion the author A.N. Prahalada Rao and his wife Mallika Prahlad has been honoured by the resident Kannadigas from New Jersey, New York, Washington DC and other surrounding cities.
Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur released the books on 75 noted personalities who contributed to the progress of Kannada cinema on 2 March 2009. Felicitating the Kannada cinema industry on celebrating the Platinum Jubilee” Kannada cinema-75 organised by Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce. Noted Writer and Film Director Baragur Ramachandrappa, has the Principal Editor of the books. Out of 75 books A.N.Prahladarao have written 2 books. The books are one is Rajakumar and onther one is T.S.Karibasaiah.
A. N. Prahlada Rao is also a poet. His 9 poem CD Vasantha Mallika (beginning blossoms) released in the month of December 2008. The songs sung by Nightingale of the USA, Bollystar 'Vasantha Shashi' NRI residing in the USA and music composed by the great singer 'Puttur Narasihma Nayak'.
A. N. Prahlada Rao has been awarded the prestigious Aryabhata and several awards. He has been awarded the prestigious Kempegowda Award 201 by Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike BBMP. He has also awarded Hamsa Ratna and Bangalore Ratna awards in 2011. He has been hounred in the Kannada Sahitya Sammelana held at Gangavathi during 2011 December.