Dharmavaram Ramakrishnamacharyulu (January 1853^[1] – 30 November 1912)^[2] was a Telugu playwright from Bellary. He was known as "Andhra Nataka Pithamaha" (Grandfather of Andhra Drama)^[3] and wrote more than 30 original plays.

Dharmavaram was born in Dharmavaram town in Anantapur district, British India in 1853.^[1] His parents were Krishnamacharyulu and Laxmidevamma; his family name was Komanduru. He lost his father at the age of 16, after which he assumed responsibility for his family's welfare. After Matriculation, he worked for some time in the Municipal High School and Adoni Taluk Office. He returned to Bellary and started practising as vakil in the Cantonment. He lost his wife soon after marriage and later married Laxmidevamma. He had passed the first-grade pleader's examination and F.A. in 1874. He had three brothers and three sisters, named Pedda Seshamma, Chinna Seshamma, and Krishnamma. Pedda Seshamma was the mother of Bellary Raghava. His brothers were Dharmavaram Gopalacharyulu, Venkata Krishnamacharyulu, and Seshacharyulu.^[4]

During the famine between 1871 and 1873, Dharmavaram and his friends established a society called Veera Sangam, to serve those affected. After the famine, it was converted into a debating society. In 1888, the society was replaced by Sarasa Vinodini Sabha.^{[citation needed]}

Influenced by the success of Kannada dramas staged by Rajadhani Nataka Mandali in 1881, his brother Gopalacharyulu wrote a drama in Telugu and staged it, though it did not have a significant impact.^{[citation needed]} Krishnamacharyulu then wrote a drama himself in Kannada Swapna Niruddhamu and staged it in 1886.^{[citation needed]} He completed the partly written Telugu drama Chitra Naliyam and directed and played the lead role on 29 January 1887. The play was successful, which helped to challenge the perception that Telugu was not suitable for drama. He went on to write and stage approximately 29 dramas and introduced songs and poems into them. He took his troupe to Madras and staged his plays in 1891 at Victoria Public Hall. Pammal Sambandha Mudaliar, inspired by these dramas, established Suguna Vilas Sabha and wrote about 90 dramas in Tamil and staged them. He recognized Ramakrishnamacharyulu as his Guru.

Many of his plays were performed by the Surabhi Drama Troupe, including Bhakta Prahlada which was adapted into the first Telugu talkie movie. Ramakrishna Vilas, a theatre building in Bellary named after Dharmavaram Ramakrishnamacharyulu, was the second theatre building in Bellary. This was later converted into a cinema theatre and renamed Star Cinema.^[5]

• Dharmavaram Ramakrishnamacharyulu in Makers of Indian Literature By Ponangi Sri Rama Apparao, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, 1989. ISBN 81-7201-771-5.Complete book online