Bellary Raghava

Bellary Raghava
Born	2 August 1880 Anantapur, Andhra pradesh, India
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 theater and cinema ^[1]

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.

Career and Theater

His uncle Dharmavaram Ramakrishnamacharyulu, who was a pioneering dramatist in Telugu, initiated him on the stage. He was also associated with another dramatist from Bellary, Kolachalam Srinivasa Rao. Besides being a versatile actor, Ragahava, was also a busy lawyer and an ardent social worker. After doing yeoman service to the cause of the Indian Theatre he died on 17 April 1946. His students include female artists like Sarojini Kopparapu, Padmavati Kommuri, Annapurna Kakinada, and male artists like Vasudevarao K.S., Apparao Basavaraju and Kanaklingeswarrao Banda.^[2]

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.

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.^[3]

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.^[4] In 1981, a postal stamp was released in his memory.^[5]

References