People from the six districts who made their name in music, film, writing, the arts, sport and public life. Each card shows where they come from and links to its source.
Music director and singer
1974β2014
π Kambalapalli, Mahabubabad district
Scored about 85 Telugu films in 14 years, many with director Puri Jagannadh.
Music director, singer and lyricist
π Bayyaram, Mahabubabad district
Music for Dhamaka, Balagam and Mad Square, among many Telugu films since 2012.
Film lyricist
b. 1970
π Challagariga, Chityal mandal, Jayashankar Bhupalpally district
About 3,600 songs in more than 850 films, including Rangasthalam, Pushpa and RRR.
Film lyricist
1973β2022
π Nagurlapally, Narsampet mandal, Warangal district
Songs for Itlu Sravani Subramanyam, Pokiri and Desamuduru, often with Chakri, and Telangana songs such as "Maagani Matti Merupu".
Playback and folk singer
b. 1960
π Old Warangal district
Folk-style singer in Telugu films since 1994.
Film director and writer
π Warangal
Directed Arjun Reddy (2017), Kabir Singh (2019) and Animal (2023).
Film director and writer
b. 1983
π Upparapalle, old Warangal district
Directed Needi Naadi Oke Katha (2018) and Virata Parvam (2022).
Screenwriter and director
b. 1970
π Warangal
Wrote Annamayya (1997), Sri Ramadasu (2006) and Om Namo Venkatesaya (2017).
Film director
π Warangal
Directed Onamalu (2012), Malli Malli Idhi Rani Roju (2015) and World Famous Lover (2020).
Classical Telugu poet
15th century
π Bammera, Jangaon district (also claimed by Vontimitta, Andhra Pradesh)
Wrote Sri Maha Bhagavatamu, known as Pothana Bhagavatam.
Medieval poet
12thβ14th century
π Palakurthi, Jangaon district (birthplace disputed)
Wrote Basava Purana and Panditaradhya Charitra.
Poet and film lyricist
1925β1987
π Chinnaguduru, Maripeda mandal, Mahabubabad district
Poetry collections Agnidhara and Rudraveena, about 2,000 film songs, and Asthana Kavi of Andhra Pradesh. The state's Dasarathi Award is named after him.
People's poet and freedom fighter
1914β2002
π Warangal
Born in Rattihalli, Karnataka; schooled at Madikonda and lived and died in Warangal.
Wrote Naa Godava. His birthday, 9 September, is Telangana Language Day, and the health university in Warangal carries his name.
Novelist
b. 1941
π Vavilala, Palakurthi mandal; lives in Hanumakonda
Wrote the novel Ampashayya, which gave him his pen name.
Poet and literary critic
b. 1940
π Chinna Pendyala, Chilpur mandal, Jangaon district
Fifteen poetry collections and the literary journal Srujana (1966β92).
Mimicry artist
1932β2018
π Mattewada, Warangal
Widely called a pioneer of mimicry in India. An auditorium in Warangal is named after him.
Chindu Yakshaganam folk theatre artist
π Jangaon district
More than 19,000 shows over five decades, many on literacy and health awareness.
Para-athlete (400 m T20)
b. 2003
π Kalleda, Warangal district
Won the 2024 World Para Athletics title in a world-record 55.06 seconds.
Ball badminton player
1918β2021
π Warangal
Born in Krishna district; worked at Azam Jahi Mills and lived in Warangal until his death at 104.
First Arjuna awardee in ball badminton; captained Andhra Pradesh to nine national titles.
9th Prime Minister of India, writer
1921β2004
π Laknepalli, Narsampet mandal, Warangal district; raised at Vangara, Hanumakonda district
Prime Minister 1991β96. Translated Veyipadagalu into Hindi and wrote the novel The Insider.
Economist and educationist
1934β2011
π Akkampet, Atmakur mandal, Hanumakonda district
Vice-Chancellor of Kakatiya University and chief ideologue of the Telangana movement. Jayashankar Bhupalpally district is named after him.
Social activist
b. 1965
π Kotha Shayampeta, Hanumakonda
Founded the Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) in 1994.
Cooperative movement leader
d. 2025
π Mulukanoor, Hanumakonda district
Born in Shamshabad; his cooperative work began at Mulukanoor.
Founded the Co-operative Development Foundation; credited with India's first all-women dairy cooperative at Mulukanoor.
Freedom fighter and parliamentarian
1917β1987
π Chinna Pendyala, Jangaon district
A leader in the 1940s struggle who won a Lok Sabha seat and two assembly seats in 1952.
Peasant struggle icon
c. 1895β1985
π Palakurthi, Jangaon district
Refused to give up her land to the Visnur deshmukh's men; a symbol of the anti-feudal struggle.
Sangham worker
d. 1946
π Kadavendi, Jangaon district
Killed during a protest procession on 4 July 1946; remembered as the first martyr of the armed peasant struggle.
Kakatiya queen
ruled 1262β1289
π Orugallu (Warangal)
Ruled from Orugallu and strengthened Warangal Fort.
