People of United Warangal, the old undivided Warangal district, who made their name in music, film, writing, the arts, sport and public life. Each card says how they are tied to the region and links to its source.
Poet and songwriter
1961β2025
Born hereπ Rebarthi, Maddur mandal (then Warangal district, now Siddipet district)
Born Ande Yellaiah, a shepherd and self-taught poet. Wrote "Jaya Jaya He Telangana", adopted as the state song in 2024.
Poet and film lyricist
1925β1987
Born hereπ 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
Lived & worked hereπ Warangal
Most biographies give his birthplace as Rattihalli, Karnataka; he was schooled at Madikonda and lived, worked and died in Warangal.
Wrote Naa Godava. His birthday, 9 September, is Telangana Language Day, and the health university in Warangal carries his name.
9th Prime Minister of India, writer
1921β2004
Born hereπ 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
Born hereπ Akkampet, Atmakur mandal, Hanumakonda district
Vice-Chancellor of Kakatiya University and chief ideologue of the Telangana movement. Jayashankar Bhupalpally district is named after him.
Freedom fighter and parliamentarian
1917β1987
Born hereπ 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
Born hereπ 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
Born hereπ Kadavendi, Jangaon district
Killed during a protest procession on 4 July 1946; remembered as the first martyr of the armed peasant struggle.
We list people only when a reliable source places them in the region. Still checking: athletics coach Nagapuri Ramesh (Dronacharya Award 2016), poet Potlapally Rama Rao, freedom fighter Akkinepalli Thirupathi, lyricists Kasarla Shyam and Mittapalli Surender, and older Padma awardees. Someone missing? Tell us with a source and we'll add them.
For the freedom struggle and the Telangana movement, see history.
