Tripuraneni Maharadhi

FILMS

Tripuraneni Maharadhi (20 April 1930 - 23 December 2011), was an Indian Telugu film Screenplay, dialogue and script writer considered legendary by the film industry for his work in Telugu Cinema. He is also remembered for his political forays, as well as for the film Alluri Seetharama Raju.^[1][2] Apart from being a dialogue, story and screenplay writer, he was also the de facto director of all the films he wrote(Alluri Seetharamaraju is an example). Apart from dialogues, script and defacto direction, his screenplay was par excellence and considered legendary in the 70's and 80's as he pioneered novel methods of creative screenplay, Alluri Seetha Ramaraju was one such example (Umbrella screenplay - first of its kind). He was also a poet and playwright with political vision. Tripuraneni Maharadhigaaru was the torch bearer of tripuraneni legacy starting from tripuraneni ramaswamy chowdarygaaru and tripuraneni gopichandgaaru.

POLITICS

Maharadhi was born to a landlord family with the common family name of Tripuraneni Balgangadhar Rao in Pasumarru, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh India.

Maharadhi pioneered the idea of a regional party in A.P and was instrumental in the launch of Telugudesam Party along with Late N.T.R . Tripuraneni Maharadhi was the first to visualise the need for a regional party and prepared a 16 point agenda with the party titled Telugu tejam and distributed pamphlets to all key people who figured in TDPs success. He joined forces with ramoji raogaaru for the promotion of the party and during one such dicussion between all, maharadigaaru analysed that a 'sanmohana shakthi' like NTR was a necessity for the partys success as Indira Gandhi's image was great among the masses during those times. Soon NTR was roped in and finally the party name was decided as 'Telugu Desam' and not 'Telugu Tejam', the 16 point agenda given by Maharadhi was adopted into TDP's vision which included 'Teluguvaalla aatmagauravam' , and after that rest is history. NTR became CM. Maharadhi parted ways with NTR politically on the issue of Nadendla Bhaskar rao wherein he strongly believed that Nadendla bhaskar rao will destroy the purity of the party to which NTR did not consent as he had political reasons for it. Later it turned out true as per Maharadhi's analysis when Nadendla bhaskar rao tried a coup on NTR. NTR on his deathbed later used to meet with akkineni nageshwar rao and tripuraneni maharadhi regularly (Since they were good friends apart from political differences) wherein NTR accepted this fact and regretted the acceptance of congressional blood into the party. Maharadhi after parting ways with NTR politically joined congress as general secretary and promoted YSR vehemently in the coastal region when congress was struggling for a comeback. Later he pioneered the entry of B.J.P into Andhra Pradesh along with Shri Venkaiah Naidu and also served as a National council member. maharadhi, venkaiah naidu and nayini narasimha reddy were prominent speakers for BJP during the entry days of BJP into A.P. Later he launched his own party 'Trillinga Prajaa Pragathi Party' in united A.P with a vision to bring the backward classes to power. He is also known for his communist inclination in all his forays may it be films or politics, he was an ardent lover of communist ideals.

OTHER FACETS

Many do not know that he was also a vedic scholar with proficiency in vedas, Saastras, ithihaasas, puraanas, vedic literature, astrology, Astronomy and Charaka sashtram (Medicine), he was a pandit in Sanskrit as well. He invented a medicine for diabetes (Madhumeha Sanjeevini) using his proficiency in shaastras, which was a good hit among film circles. His close circles know that he had written a document called 'Marana Shaasanam' one year before his demise predicting the exact time and date of his death.

Family

Maharadhi had four children, three sons and a daughter who is deceased. His son, Tripuraneni Varaprasad (Chitti) is a noted film maker and politician. He is carrying on the legacy of Tripuraneni Maharadhi in both films and politics.

Works

Filmography

SOME NOTED WORKS

• Sathi Arundhati
• Kanchukota
• Yodhanu Yodhulu (1961)
• Niluvu Dhopidi
• Pethandhaarl
• Simhasanam
• Devudu Chesina Manushulu
• and about 150 scripts with nearly 100% hit ratio

Written Works

SOME NOTED WORKS

• Bandipotu (1963)
• Kanchukota (1967)
• Niluvu Dopidi (1968)
• Pettandarlu (1970)
• Desoddharakulu (1973)
• Devudu Chesina Manushulu (1973)
• Paadi Pantalu (1976)
• Kurukshetram (1977)
• Ram Robert Raheem (1980)
• Hema Hemeelu (1980)
• Praja Rajyam (1983)
• Simhasanam (1986)
• Santhi Sandesam (2004)
• (and more than 150 scripts with almost 100% hit ratio)

As producer

• Desamante manushuloye (1971)
• Bogimantalu (1982)
• Raithu Bharatam (1994)

Role in politics

Maharadhi was not as popular as the pan India Telugu political personalities like NTR and YSR, but he was a legend in his own right in film and political circles. He is remembered for his fearless acumen and foresight. He is, to some degree, linked to every political party in the Telugu political frame and was instrumental in the launch of the TDP. He was the first person to come up with the idea of a regional party in A.P., along with a few intellectuals who started the crusade. Later, when NTR was convinced to join the initiative, he took over the reins. Maharadhi served as Andhra Pradesh Congress State Secretary under the Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.In this position, he was instrumental in promoting YSR in the east and west Godavari districts in his early days. When the Bharatiya Janata Party came into existence he served briefly as a national council member. In 2004 he launched his own political party 'Trillinga Praja Praghati' (TPP). His political and film legacy is continued by his son Tripuraneni Varaprasad, an active politician serving BJP since 1989 and also close tie-ups with TDP.

References

External links

• http://www.cinespot.net/gallery/v/Events/South+Events/Tripuraneni+Maharadhi+Death+Photos/