Singireddy NarayanaReddy

Cingireddi Narayana Reddy (29 July 1931 – 12 June 2017), popularly known as CiNaRe, was an Indian Telugu-language poet, writer, and critic. He had produced over eighty literary works including poems, prose-plays, lyrical plays, translations, and ghazals. He was also a professor, film lyricist, actor, and Rajya Sabha politician. He also served as the Vice Chancellor of Telugu University.

Narayana Reddy won several awards in his career including the Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary honour, for Viswambhara in 1988. He was conferred with the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 2014, the highest honour of the Sahitya Academy, India's National Academy of Letters. Subsequently, he penned the lyrics for more than 3,500 songs

Early life and career Cingireddi Narayana Reddy was born on 29 July 1931 in the village of Hanumajipet in present-day Rajanna Sircilla district of Telangana to a Telugu family of Malla Reddy and Buchamma. He took Telugu as his subject during his graduation. Reddy received his Master of Arts degree in 1954 and became a college lecturer in 1955. He received Ph.D. in 1962 on "Modern Traditions of Telugu" and became a professor in 1976.

Naryana Reddy married Suseela and with her had four daughters, Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswathi and Krishnaveni, named after famous rivers of India . Reddy instituted an award named after his wife which is presented annually to the female writers. Reddy was nominated to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament, in August 1997.

Reddy's Nagarjuna Sagaram is a Buddhist epic poetry based on a heart-breaking love story of a lady Santisri who comes to study Buddhism and falls in love with a sculptor Padmadeva. His 1957 Karpura Vasantha Rayulu was an epic poem retelling the romance between the King Kumara Giri of Reddy dynasty and his court dancer Lakuma. The book was dedicated to Telugu historian Mallampalli Somasekhara Sarma whose main contributions were regarding the recording of Reddy history.

Along with poetry, Reddy also composed musical plays Ramappa (1960), based on Kakatiya dynasty and the collection of ten plays Narayana Reddy Natikalu (Play-lets of Narayana Reddy, 1978). He published analysis of modern Telugu poetry, its precursors, its progression through various phases and its modern-day forms in Adhunikandhara Kavitamu - Sampradayamulu Prayogamalu: Modern Telugu Poetry Tradition and Experiment. His 1997 published book Matti Manishi Akasam (Man Beyond Earth and Sky) consists of a long poem of around hundred pages. He won the Nandi Award for Best Lyricist twice for the song "Kantene Amma Ani Ante Ela?" from the movie Preminchu (2001) and "Idigo Raayalaseema Gadda" from the movie Seetayya (2003).

Jalapatham (1953) Navvani Puvvu (1953) Viswageeti (1954) Nagarjuna Sagaram (1955) Narayana Reddy Geyalu (1955) Ajantha Sundari (1955) Swapna Bhangam (1957) Karpura Vasantarayalu (1957) Tene Patalu (1957) Viswanatha Nayudu (1959) Divvela Muvvalu (1959) Vennelawada (1959) Geya Natikalu (1959) Vachanakavitha (Cini Kavi Manasnivali) (1959) Ramappa (1960) Cinare Geethalu (1963) Rutu Chakram (1964) Sama Darsanam (1964) Aksharala Gavakshalu (1965) Vyasavahini (1965) Jati Ratnam (1967) Adhunikandhra Kavitvam (1967) Sampradaya Reethulu (1967) Madhyatharagathi Mandahasam (1968) Maro Harivillu (1969) Gandhiyam (1969) Meerabai (1969) Mantalu - Manavudu (1970) Mukhamukhi (1971) Manishi - Chilaka (1972) Mandhara Makarandhalu (1973) Patalo Emindi - Na Matalo Emundhi (First Volume) (1974) Patalo Emindi - Na Matalo Emundhi (Second Volume) (1974) Marpu Na Tirpu (1974) Sikharalu Loyalu (1974) Tejassu Na Tapassu (1975) Taratarala Telugu Velugu (1975) Pagale Vennela (1976) Inti Peru Chaitanyam (1976) Bhoomika (1977) Narayana Reddy Natikalu (1978) Mathanam (1978) Mrutyuvu Nunchi (1979) Muthyala Kokila (1979) Viswambhara (1980) Soviet Russia lo Padi Rojulu (1980) Maa Ooru Matladindi (1980) Rekkalu (1982) Amara Veerudu Bhagat Singh (1982) Nadaka Na Talli (1983) Kalam Anchu Mida (1985) Telugu Gazallu (1986) Kavitha Na Chirunama (1988) Arohana (1991) Jathiki Oopiri Swatantryam (1993) Drukpatham (1994) Bhoogolamanta Manishi Bomma (1996) Matti Manishi Aakasam (1997) Gadilo Samudram (1998) Vyaktitvam (1999) Dooraalanu Doosukotchi (2000) Muchataga Moodu Varalu (2001) Paschatya Desallo Yabai Rojulu. (2001) Samooham Vaipu (2008) Manishiga Jeevinchalani (2009) Viswam Nalo Unnappudu (2010) Nachoopu Repati Vaipu (2011) Vakkuku Vayasu Ledu (2012) Lethakiranalu (2013) Alalethe Adugulu (2013) Ningikegirina Chetlu (2014) Cinare Gazallu Prapancha Padulu Kalam Sakshiga Udayam Na Hrudayam Jathiya Kavi Sammelanamloni Vividha Bhasha Kavithala Anuvaadhalu Telugukavitha Layathmakatha Saptati Oka Liptaga Moving Spirit (English) Rekkala Santhakalu Jwalaga Jeevinchalani Konagotimida Jeevitham Kalisi Nadiche Kalam Evee Aa Jeeva Nadhulu That's What I said (English)

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Awards Reddy won several awards for his literary work which includes the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1973 for his poetry collection Mantalu Manavudu, the Jnanpith Award for Viswambhara in 1988 and was conferred with the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 2014, the highest honour of the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters. Reddy was also awarded an honorary Kala Prapoorna by Andhra University in 1978, the Soviet Land Nehru award in 1982, The Government of India honored him with the fourth and third highest civilian awards, Padma Shri (1977) and Padma Bhushan (1992).

He also won the Nandi Award for Best Lyricist twice for the song "Kantene Amma Ani Ante Ela?" from the movie Preminchu (2001) and "Idigo Raayalaseema Gadda" from the movie Seetayya'' (2003). He died on 12 June 2017 at the age of 85.