Banda Kanakalingeshwara Rao
Banda Kanakalingeshwara Rao B.L. (Telugu: బందా కనకలింగేశ్వరరావు) (January 20, 1907 - December 3, 1968) was a famous Telugu drama and film actor.
Life sketch
He was born in 1907 at Atapaka village in Kaikaluru mandal of Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh. After primary education, he joined Noble College, Machilipatnam. He graduated in Law from Madras Law College in 1932. He practiced as a lawyer for some time and later shifted to the theatre field as his profession. He played many different roles in various dramas. He was well known for the Bahuka in Chitranaleeyam and Bilwamangal in Chintamani.
He founded College for Theatre arts in Eluru in 1938 and trained many students and art lovers. He established Prabhat Theatre in 1942, an institution and introduced new techniques into the stage plays.
He entered the Telugu film industry during the early period and acted in some films like Paduka Pattabhishekham (1945), Bala Nagamma (1942), Sarangadhara (1937), and Draupadi Manasamrakshanam (1936).
He was very devotional to Lord sarva mangala parvathi sameth kanakalingeswara swamy and lord veerabhadra, in atapaka,his birthplace,in kaiklur mandal,krishna district, andhra pradesh. Dr. Rudrapaka kanakalingeswarao, was his best assosiate. He lost his wife in 1942 and returned to Eluru. He married again. He had seven daughters and a son.
He promoted theatrical activities heavily. Many dramas are got written by famous writers like Jampana Chandrasekhar Rao, Gabbita Venkata Rao and played them and touring the entire state. He ruled the theatre field for more than 25 years. In 1955, he toured Russia, Finland, Czechoslovakia and other countries and observed their theatrical techniques.
He promoted Kuchipudi dance. He along with Vedantam Parvatisam in 1957 helped the government in the establishment of Siddhendra Kalakshetra in Kuchipudi village. This institution was later merged with the Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University in 1989.[1] He wrote many articles to take this art form to the public.[2]
He joined All India Radio in 1956 and broadcast many drama and playlets. He founded Shiva temple and Vedic School in his native village.
He left this world leaving behind vast audiences in 1968.
His statue was built opposite to LORD SIVA temple by Dr.Banda Venkata Ramanaiah in the ATAPAKA village.
Honours
He was member of Kendriya Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1952 and Andhra Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1957. He was recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1963.
Filmography
- Paduka Pattabhishekam (1945) .... Bharatha
- Bala Nagamma (1942) .... Kaaryavardhi Raju
- Sarangadhara (1937) .... Sarangadhara
- Draupadi Manasamrakshanam (1936)
References
- Nata Ratnalu, Mikkilineni Radhakrishna Murthy, Second edition, 2002.
- Luminaries of 20th Century, Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad, 2005.