Dr. Deerghasi Vizai Bhaskar, born in 1958 in Ampolu village, Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, hails from a poor family. He began writing dramas at the age of twenty-two, with his debut play Turpu Tellanrindi, which depicted the struggles of weavers. Though he initially started his literary career writing short stories, on the advice of Kalipatnam Master, he transitioned to playwriting under the guidance of S.K. Misro, a veteran stage director. His passion for theater led him to pursue academic research in the field, culminating in a thesis on Bertolt Brecht's influence on Telugu drama.
Literature Dr. D. Vizai Bhaskar imbibed a spirit of democratic struggle against social and political oppression rooted in caste, demography, and the political system. He draws his themes from the agony of human suffering prevalent in rural society. Often, he employs mythopoeic and folkloric concepts to awaken rural communities, as their cultural foundations are deeply rooted in the perceptions of the past. Bhaskar also utilizes a powerful sense of humor, with shades of satire, to inspire and provoke people towards the effective realization of their goals. He views drama and theater as powerful tools for social change.
His sense of social commitment and responsibility has earned him several awards, including six Nandi Awards at the state level for best playwriting and the prestigious Central Sangeet Natak Puraskar in 2010. Many of his plays have been translated into several Indian languages, including Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali, Manipuri, Malayalam, and English, and have received equal appreciation and acclaim from diverse audiences. It is no exaggeration to say that he has emerged as a powerful pan-Indian playwright of recent times.
Dramas and other Literary Works Philosophical & Spiritual Writings
Srushti Garbha (A poetic interpretation of 12 Upanishads in 850 poems)
Dramas +1Sri Ayodhya Rama (A Ballad on Rama Janma Bhumi)18Meere Devullu2Ruthwik 19Chitram3Bommalu Cheppina Bhajagovindam 20Mabbullo Bomma4Kinchitbhogam 21Devudu Kaavaali5Hiranyagarbha 22Baapu cheppina maata6Gandhi Jayanthi 23Gruhapravesam7Kurchee 24Toorpu Tellaarindi8Puliswari 25Vontari Rekkalu9Kaalakootam 26Raji Gaadu-Raaju Ayyadu10Jeevannatakam 27Gaali Batukulu11Kabeerdas 28Yamini Purnathilaka12Yogi Vemana 29Suravaram Prathapa Reddy13Mahatma Jyotirao Phule 30Suravaram Prathapa Reddy14Shramanakam 31Kotval Raja Bahadhur15Shatruvu 32Mahaapurushudu Madali16Brahmaraatha 33Thimira Jwaala17Minister34Viplawa Jyoti bahujana Veerudu Panduga Saayanna Poetry
Mahaa Sunyam Vamsadhra Mounamtho Maatalu Vijaya Sathakam Vruddhaarchana
Short Stories
Municipal Stories (Anthology)
Novels
Veerakalingam Dhammali
Research Work
Ph.D. Thesis: Concept of Brecht’s Epic Theatre: Its Influence on Telugu Drama
Recognition Vizai Bhaskar's dramas were adopted by the Karnataka Nataka Akademi in 2010 to be performed on stage as part of a Kannada-Telugu theater collaboration. In an interview with The Hindu, Bhaskar mentioned that his play Gandhi Jayanthi was translated into seven languages, in addition to English, and that his drama Puli Swari was staged 150 times.
Awards
Nandi Awards : Best Writer Award for the years 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, and 2011 Sri Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University Award in 2004 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Best Playwright in 2010 Delhi Telugu Akademi Award for Excellence in Telugu Literature in 2011 Gurajada Sahitee Puraskaram in 2012, conferred by the Government of Andhra Pradesh
References
External links Personal Website Vizai Bhaskar's interview in DD Saptagiri, national network of India Kaalakutam A Pragmatic Portraiture Of Political Power by A. Satya Phani Kumari, Dr. Y. Somalatha Deergasi VizaiBhaskars Ruthwik A Social-Drama by Sk Rahena A Deeper Insight on Social Apprehension and Humanity by Dr.D.Sravana Jyothi The Element Of Social Concern In The Plays Of Vizai Bhaskar by Y. Saloman Raju Dr VizaiBhaskars Dramas A Call for Social Change by Sujata Agarwal Gandhism Is Always a Powerful Tool of Social Change: A Study of Vizai Bhaskar’s The Return of Gandhi by Hari Babu Thammineni Sootha Theatre, A Critical Analysis by Ch Anantha Sai Lakshmi Politics and Democracy in The Return of Gandhi by Dr. G. Srilatha SOOTHA RANGASTHALI A Review by Dr. Ch. Rajeswari The Role of Women Characters in select plays of Vizai Bhaskar A Study by Dr. Haribabu Thammineni The Chair is A Critical Study by R. Deepa Critical Appreciation of Riding The Tiger of Vizai Bhaskar by A.V.Padmavathi, Dr.R.Polireddy Gandhism Is Always a Powerful Tool of Social Change: A Study of VizaiBhaskar’s The Return of Gandhi TRUTH IS ALWAYS AN ANTIDOTE FOR MODERN ILLS: A CRITICAL STUDY OF VIZAI BHASKAR'S RUTHWIK By Hari Babu Thammineni VIZAI BHASKAR IS AN EMERGING FOURTH-WORLD PLAYWRIGHT WITH DEEPER SOCIAL CONCERN AND HUMANISM – CRITICAL EVALUATION OF HIS SELECT PLAYS By Hari Babu Thammineni దీర్ఘాసి విజయ భాస్కర్ రాసిన "ఖగోళ కావ్యం” మహాశున్యం - బండి నారాయణస్వామి ఒక జీవితజయగాథ - వాడ్రేవు చినవీరభద్రుడు మబ్బుల్లో బొమ్మ" ఆధునిక నాటకం – నూతన ప్రయోగాలు - డా. సిహెచ్. సుశీల సృష్టిగర్భ: ఉపనిషత్కాంతి - వాడ్రేవు చినవీరభద్రుడు డా.దీర్ఘాసి విజయభాస్కర్ రచించిన సృష్టిగర్భ గ్రంథావిష్కరణ కళింగాన్వేషణ - వాడ్రేవు చినవీరభద్రుడు కళ్ళకు కట్టిన ఓ మహనీయ జీవితం - రెంటాల జయదేవ