Art Legend Profile: Kalaratna Sunkara Chalapati Rao
KALARATNA SUNKARA CHALAPATI RAO CHITRAKALAYOGI VADDADI PAPAIAH
It is no exaggeration to say that Sunkara Chalapati Rao is a dedicated individual who has spent half a century serving the field of art with immense sincerity, critique, analysis, and management. He introduced eminent artists such as Vaddadi Papaiah, Ippili Jogi Sannyasi Rao, Ashapu Appa Rao, Shala Padma, Maraganti Seetharamacharyulu, Addanki Venkateswara Rao, Komoju Narasimhacharyulu, Balayya, late artist P. Venugopala Reddy, Dr. Veluri Radhakrishna, Shishta Ramakrishna Rao, Bali, and Antyakula Pydiraju to art lovers.
He authored and published art books including nine books on the king of colors Vaddadi Papaiah, along with Andhra Chitrashilpulu, Chitrakala Ratnalu, Damerla Rama Rao, and Raja Ravi Varma Chitrakala Vaibhavam. He served as the editor for publications such as Vishwa Chitrakala Monthly Magazine, Chitrakala Parishad Silver Jubilee Souvenir, Lekhalu, Ragati Pandari Autobiography, Chitrakala Charitra, VaPa Birth Centenary Souvenir, VaPa Cartoons, and Rathnachitra. He is one of the founders of Navarang Chitrakala Niketan - Velleturu and the Shipyard Writers Association. He served as the Assistant Secretary for Lalitakala Parishad in Visakhapatnam and as the General Secretary for Chitrakala Parishad for three and a half decades, organizing numerous art competitions and exhibitions in Visakhapatnam.
He worked as a reporter for two decades in newspapers such as Eenadu, Andhra Prabha, and Andhra Bhoomi in the industrial area of Visakhapatnam, striving to resolve local issues. In 1989, he participated in a national-level seminar organized by the Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi. He received honors and felicitations on platforms across the state and successfully organized art camps in various regions through Chitrakala Parishad.
Chalapati Rao possesses over 100 books and souvenirs on art published in Telugu. Over the past 25 years, he has delivered numerous talks on All India Radio, Visakhapatnam station. Recognizing his outstanding contributions to the field of fine arts, the Government of Andhra Pradesh honored him with the state's highest award, "Kalaratna," presented by Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu.
