Telugu Poetry

By P.V.R. Narasimha Rao

I was born in a family of poets and scholars. My father was a lecturer in Telugu and a brilliant scholar. My grandfather was an accomplished poet known for spontaneous metrical compositions. It was, however, two of his cousins who were more well-known: (1) Pingali Nagendra Rao, who wrote the story, songs and dialogue in many of Vijaya Productions' films (including the songs in Mayabazar, Patalabhairavi, Gundamma katha, Missamma, Appu chesi pappu koodu, Jagadeka veeruni katha etc), and, (2) Prof. Pingali Lakshmikantham, of well-known Pingali-Katuri janta kavulu.

With poetry in my blood, I started writing poems at a young age. Though my first poem at the age of 11 was a kanda padyam on Lord Shiva, I was influenced by poets of various styles, from classical poets like Tikkana, Potana, Srinatha and Viswanatha, to modern geya kavis like Gurazada and SriSri, to vachana kavis like Kundurti, SriSri and Devarakonda, to digambara kavis like Cherabandaraju and Nagnamuni. Unlike some others, I never tried to compare and judge different styles. Every style has its own strengths, charms and positive effects. So I have penned kavitas in a variety of styles.

I used to write poetry as a kid and as a teenager, in Telugu and Sanskrit, but this activity slowed down once I went to IIT, Madras for B.Tech. And, it died down once I came to USA. I occasionally write poems now.

I also compose Sanskrit verses. You can read some Sanskrit verses composed by me on Hindu deities.

On this page, I wanted to share with my Telugu friends a few Telugu poems written by me. You will find here some poems written in classical style (using chhandassu or classical metres), some singable (geya) kavitas, some prose-like (vachana) kavitas and even some mini kavitas. There are poems of various styles and the variety can only increase with time...

As time passes by, I may add any new poems I may write. I may also add some short-stories written by me. Given that I started the 20-year dasa of Venus (the celestial poet!) in August 2017, there is hope! So visit again!!

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