Balijepalli Lakshmikantam Biography 
Balijepalli Lakshmikantam was a cine personality associated with Telugu cinema. He was also a freedom fighter who lived during the period, 23 December 1881 – 30 June 1953. He was also a poet who was fondly called Lakshmikanta Kavi. In the entertainment sector, he was known as a playwright, screenwriter, and an actor too – who appeared in films as well as theatre. Harischandra (Satya Harischandriyamu) is his masterpiece play, which he wrote in 1924. He was also a journalist and publisher who started a press in Guntur in 1922.
Balijepalli Lakshmikantam or Balijepalli Lakshmikanta Kavi was a well-known Telugu literary figure in the pre-independent era. He was born in Itikampadu village of Guntur district near Bapatla on 23 December 1881. Narasimha Sastry and Adilakshmamma were his parents. He studied till matriculation before he took a job. He worked in a Sub-registrar office as Gumasta or accountant. Later he worked as teacher in Hindu College, before he turned more attached to the world of art and cinema, and also literature. In 1922, with the help of Challapalli Raja, he started Chandrika Printing press in Guntur.
He also got involved with freedom struggle movement almost at the same time, and got arrested in 1930 for his participation in Salt Satyagraha. He wrote the play Satya Harischandriyam while he spending his days in prison, and this work is widely regarded as his masterpiece. He is still remembered for this play. He established First Drama Company in 1926, and staged many plays. He played the role of Satya Harischandra and Uttara Raghavam on stage multiple times. In Telugu cinema, he wrote dialogues and songs and acted in some Telugu films.
Published: October 16, 2018
Updated: October 16, 2018
