From: kishore@argo.rice.edu (Ananda Kishore)
Subject: Poetry by B. Narasing Rao, a film maker
Organization: Rice University
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1992 21:07:19 GMT

B. Narasing Rao is a rare film maker in Telugu - he makes serious
films (maa bhoomi, rangula kala, daasi, etc.). He was born in 1946, 
and had early schooling at Alwal. He obtained NFDA certificate in 
painting from the Govt College of Fine Arts and Architecture, Hyderabad.
He has a rich theater experience. He toured Andhra Pradesh extensively
performing group shows, extempore street plays. He has a deep interest 
in folk music, and this can be ascertained from the songs in his films
(paala buggalaa pasivaaDaa..naijam sarkaro'd'a..banDenaka banDikaTTi). 
His use of dialect and folk music brought an ethos to his film making.

His interests include literature, photography, painting, and
music, apart from film-making. In the field of photography and
painting, he has tried to bring out the origins of Andhra folk art and
furthered its cause. He has published four volumes of poetry, which
adopted folk forms to modern viewpoint. A number of well-researched
articles of his on Theater, Cinema have been published, besides 
several short stories. 

A list of his films is in the appendix. I am posting a couple of his
poems below, with his permission. (He is currently touring North
America.)

        
                            renDu kavitalu

                                    1

aakaaSam puucina nunu veccani end'a
priyuraali kougili
karugu_tunna mancu
kaalaaniki aahutou_tunna vayasu

viccukune' puvvu
galagala navve' niiTi tumpara
aakaaSam nunDi kurustunna mancu mutyaalu
aakupacca maidaanaala nagnatvam
nadulalo' te'lipo'ye' mabbulu

payanince' guvvala jant'a
aakarshaNaki guraina jiivitam.

                                -- bi. narasingaraavu
                                      sept. 19, 1992.
              2

daahanto'
ee pasupu pacca maidaanaala gund'aa parigettu_tunnaanu.
eegala_laa musurukune' vayasuni
rend'u ce'tulaa vidilistu_nnaanu
ega_dannuka_vacce' So'ka_prapancamlo'
nee aanavaalu pasi_gatt'aanu

paarutunna niit'ilo'
nee cuupula tuupulu cuusaanu
Svaasa_lo'ni vecca_danamlo'
anubhuutula vaad'ini anubha_vincaanu.

egire' paavuraayi mastishkamlo'
nee bhaavaala ve'd'ini pasi_gatt'aanu

nee jnaapakaala anubhuutulanu
ee cinna ginneto' aasvaadistunnaanu.

                                -- bi. narasingaraavu
                                        sept 19, 1992.



Appendix: Narasing Rao's Filmography.

maa bhoomi (Our Land), 1979. [Directed by Goutam Ghose.] Co-producer,
Co-script writer. AWARDS: Siver Nandi 1980 - Best Screenplay, from Govt
of AP - Best Telugu Film 1980, Film Fare Award. Participation:
Karlovovary International Film Festival 1979, Czechoslovakia.

rangula kala (Colourful Dream) 1983. Story, Co-script writer, Co-Music
Director, Director, played the lead role. AWARDS: National Award for
Best Regional Film 1984; Best Supporting Actress 1984, from Govt of
AP. Participation: Filmotsav 1984, Bombay.

The City (Documentary) 1987. Scenario, Music, and Direction. AWARDS:
Silver Nandi 1987, Govt of AP. Participation: Bombay International
Film Festival, 1990. 

maa ooru (My Village) (Documentary) 1989. Art, Music, Scenario, and
Direction. AWARDS: Main Prize in Media Wave 92, National Visual Arts
Foundation, Hungary; National Award 1989 for the Best Anthropological
Ethnographic Film, India;  Silver Nandi 1989, Govt of AP;  Best
Photography, IDPA, Bombay.  Participation: International Premier at
Munich Film Fest, 1989, West Germany; Bombay International Film
Festival, 1990.

daasi (Bonded Woman) 1988. Scenario, Music, Story, and Direction. 
AWARDS: Five National Awards 1989: Best Actress, Best Cinematographer,
Best Art Director, Best Costume Designer, Best Regional Film; Diploma
of Merit, Moscow International Film Festival 1989. Participation:
Munich Film Fest 1989, West Germany; Karlovivary International Film
Festival 1990, Czechoslovakia ; Nantes International Film Festival,
France;  Cairo International Film Festival, Egypt; Lincoln Center,
New York; Filmotsav 1990, Calcutta; Festival of India 1991-91, West
Germany. 

maTTi manushulu (Mud People) 1990. Story, Music, Screenplay,
Direction. AWARDS: National Award for the Best Regional Film in Telugu
1990; Diploma of Merit, Moscow International Film Fest 1992, Moscow.
Participation: International Film Festival of India 1991, Madras; 
Screening Days 1991, Sweden; Cinematic Film Festival 1992, Canada. 

aakRti (Shape) (Documentary) 1991. Script, Co-Music Director,
Director. AWARDS: Special Jury Award 1991, NAtional Film Festival; 
Silver Nandi 1991, Govt of AP. Participation: Bombay International
Film Festival 1992. 




kishore