Pingali (writer)


Pingali Nagendrarao was a Telugu movie script writer, playwright and lyricist. Famous for his witty and romantic lyrics, he also wrote dialogues for many movies. Patala Bhairavi, Mayabazar and Missamma are some of his best known works for story, script and song lyrics.
Pingali is famous for his coining of new and funny words and phrases in Telugu such as Dhimbaka, Dingari, Gimbali.

Life sketch

He was born in a Telugu Brahmin family on 29 December 1901 to Gopalakrishnaiah and Mahalaxmamma in Rajam, near Bobbili, Andhra Pradesh. Because most of his relatives are settled in Machilipatnam, their family migrated there. He did a course in Mechanical Engineering from the Andhra Jateeya Kalasala, Machilipatnam.
He joined Indian independence movement and wrote Janma Bhoomi as his first literary work. He was arrested for the same. He worked as a teacher for some time and later joined Bengal Nagpur Railway at Kharagpur for two years. He was union leader of the labour association there. During this period, he translated Dwijendralal Ray's Mebar Patan as Mevadu Rajyapatanam and Pashani from Bengali into Telugu language. His independent work during the same time was Jebunnisa. All the three dramas were published in Krishna Patrica. He joined Indian National Congress and as pracharak toured the entire country and reached Sabarmati Ashram.
He came back to Machilipatnam and joined Indian Dramatic Company of Devarakonda Venkata Subbarao in 1924 as writer and secretary. He wrote Vindyarani play in 1928 based on the Dubois of Padua of Oscar Wilde, Naa Raju play based on the history of Sri Krishnadevaraya, Maro Prapancham social play and Rani Samyukta historical play.
Pingali Nagendra Rao was considered a magician with words. He died on 6 May 1971.
All of Pingali Nagendra Rao's plays were reprinted recently in a book titled Pingaleeyam.

Filmography

  1. Chanakya Chandragupta
  2. Neeti-Nijayiti
  3. Umachandi Gowri Sankarula Katha
  4. Bhagyachakram
  5. C.I.D.
  6. Srikakula Andhra MahaVishnuvu
  7. Satya Harischandra
  8. Premeelarjuneeyam
  9. Sri Krishnarjuna Yudham
  10. Mahamantri Timmarusu
  11. Gundamma Katha
  12. Jagadeka Veeruni Katha
  13. Mahakavi Kalidasu
  14. Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu
  15. Pelli Naati Pramanalu
  16. Maya Bazaar
  17. Maya Bazaar
  18. Missamma
  19. Guna Sundari
  20. Chandraharam
  21. Patala Bhairavi
  22. Gunasundari Katha
  23. Vindhyarani
  24. Bhale Pelli
  25. Sri Krishna Leelalu