Kolachalam Srinivasa Rao
Encyclopedia
Kolachalam Srinivasa Rao (Telugu
: కోలాచలం శ్రీనివాసరావు) (b: March 13, 1854 - d: June 23, 1919) was a noted dramatist from Bellary
.
A pleader and a non-professional theatre practitioner from Bellary
, Srinivasa Rao belonged to the family of Mallinatha Suri
, the world-famous writer acclaimed as Vyakyatha Shiromani. Srinivasa Rao became famous after publishing the English
translation of Prapancha Nataka Charitra (The Dramatic History of the World) (Vanivilasa Press, Bellary) in 1908. His family was a very learned one. Even in childhood he was accomplished in Sanskrit
and Telugu
, and was familiar with Kannada. English was acquired at school. He took to Law
. Srinivasa Rao's second elder brother Venkata Rao was a lawyer
and in a high position, who was later elected as a member of the Madras Assembly. Under the guidance of his elder brother, Srinivasa Rao's literary effort flourished without a break. He was further helped by the local environment in Bellary where the drama movement was flourishing with redoubled vigour. In such a conducive atmosphere, wrote his magnum opus, as well as dramas, commentaries on the Vedas and other literary works. His first drama was Sunandini Parinayam, published around 1894-95, after which he wrote about 30 plays. A large number of these plays were performed by their drama company Sumanorama Sabha. Bellary Raghava
and Srinivasa Rao worked closely in running the affairs of the Sabha.
Sumanaroma Sabha staged two or three plays in the hall of the Sarasa Vinodini Sabha, and the plays were well received. When Sarasa Vinodini Sabha later refused to lend the hall to them, Srinivasa Rao build a new hall for the Sumanorama Sabha, called Vanivilasa Nataka Shala, which was inaugurated by Balgangadhar Tilak. This was the first theatre building in Bellary, the second one being Ramakrishna Vilas (after Dharmavaraṃ Rāmakr̥ṣṇamācāryulu
). Both of these were later converted into cinema theatres - Ramakrishna Vilas renamed Star Cinema, and Vanivilas Nataka Shala renamed Prabhat Cinema.
In the preface of his magnum opus, he points to the decadence that had set into Indian language theatres at that point in time, in part because of the decline in morality in the practice of theatre. Finally, after surveying theatre traditions from Japan to the Americas, he provided an exclusive appendix, a list of "rules" like by-laws for contemporary theatre practitioners. Among his recommendations: "Till Hindu society is fully developed physically, greatly reformed morally, and vastly improved intellectually, do not allow a woman to become an actress. Hindu customs and manners do not allow such a course being taken"
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
: కోలాచలం శ్రీనివాసరావు) (b: March 13, 1854 - d: June 23, 1919) was a noted dramatist from Bellary
Bellary
Bellary is a historic city in Bellary District in Karnataka state, India.-Origins of the city's name:There are several legends about how Bellary got its name....
.
A pleader and a non-professional theatre practitioner from Bellary
Bellary
Bellary is a historic city in Bellary District in Karnataka state, India.-Origins of the city's name:There are several legends about how Bellary got its name....
, Srinivasa Rao belonged to the family of Mallinatha Suri
Mallinatha Suri
Mallinātha Sūri was an eminent critic, known for his commentaries on five mahakavyas of Sanskrit. During his times, he is said to have received the titles of Mahamahopadyaya and Vyakhyana Cakravarti. He lived during the reigns of Racakonda king Singabhupala and Vijayanagara king Deva Raya I...
, the world-famous writer acclaimed as Vyakyatha Shiromani. Srinivasa Rao became famous after publishing the English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
translation of Prapancha Nataka Charitra (The Dramatic History of the World) (Vanivilasa Press, Bellary) in 1908. His family was a very learned one. Even in childhood he was accomplished in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
and Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
, and was familiar with Kannada. English was acquired at school. He took to Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
. Srinivasa Rao's second elder brother Venkata Rao was a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and in a high position, who was later elected as a member of the Madras Assembly. Under the guidance of his elder brother, Srinivasa Rao's literary effort flourished without a break. He was further helped by the local environment in Bellary where the drama movement was flourishing with redoubled vigour. In such a conducive atmosphere, wrote his magnum opus, as well as dramas, commentaries on the Vedas and other literary works. His first drama was Sunandini Parinayam, published around 1894-95, after which he wrote about 30 plays. A large number of these plays were performed by their drama company Sumanorama Sabha. Bellary Raghava
Bellary Raghava
Bellary Raghava was a noted Indian playwright from Bellary, India.Tadpatri Raghavacharlu, populary known as 'Bellary' Raghava, was a renowned actor. He was born on 2 August 1880. He received his early education at Bellary and later graduated in law from the Madras University. His uncle Dharmavaraṃ...
and Srinivasa Rao worked closely in running the affairs of the Sabha.
Sumanaroma Sabha staged two or three plays in the hall of the Sarasa Vinodini Sabha, and the plays were well received. When Sarasa Vinodini Sabha later refused to lend the hall to them, Srinivasa Rao build a new hall for the Sumanorama Sabha, called Vanivilasa Nataka Shala, which was inaugurated by Balgangadhar Tilak. This was the first theatre building in Bellary, the second one being Ramakrishna Vilas (after Dharmavaraṃ Rāmakr̥ṣṇamācāryulu
Dharmavaram Ramakrishnamacharyulu
Dharmavaraṃ Rāmakr̥ṣṇamācāryulu was a renowned Telugu dramatist and playwright from Bellary. He was known as "Andhra Nataka Pithamaha" and wrote more than 30 original plays.-Early life:...
). Both of these were later converted into cinema theatres - Ramakrishna Vilas renamed Star Cinema, and Vanivilas Nataka Shala renamed Prabhat Cinema.
In the preface of his magnum opus, he points to the decadence that had set into Indian language theatres at that point in time, in part because of the decline in morality in the practice of theatre. Finally, after surveying theatre traditions from Japan to the Americas, he provided an exclusive appendix, a list of "rules" like by-laws for contemporary theatre practitioners. Among his recommendations: "Till Hindu society is fully developed physically, greatly reformed morally, and vastly improved intellectually, do not allow a woman to become an actress. Hindu customs and manners do not allow such a course being taken"