Kallakuri Narayana Rao (28 April 1871 – 27 June 1927) was social reformer, play writer, Cinematographer and Indian nationalist. His honorific name is "Mahakavi". His famous plays were Varavikrayam,[1] Chintamani,[2] [3] Madhuseva, Chitrabhyudayam and Padmavyuham(1919).[4] His play chintamani mainly depicted how Chintamani though born in a family of professional harlots, with her conscious devotion to Lord Krishna attained liberation. It also brought out the hazards of the practice of harlotry.[5]
His play "Padmavyuham"(Army configuration of the Lotus) used historical and mythological frameworks as allegories for contemporary conditions under British domination.[6]
In his novel "Varavikrayam" about the Dowry system prevalent in British India. The film Varavikrayam is based on the novel and play of the same name by him.[7]
His mythological verse plays are very popular. He penned these myth-dramas based on the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavata, Siva Puranam and other epics.[8]