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{{short description|Indian playwright}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = A. N. Swamy Venkatadri Iyer
| image = Samsa.jpeg
| caption = Samsa
| pseudonym = Samsa
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1898|01|13}}<ref name="KAVI"/>
| birth_place = [[Agara, Chamarajanagar|Agara]], [[Yelandur]], [[Kingdom of Mysore]] (now in [[Karnataka]]),

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1939|02|14|1898|01|13}}<ref name="KAVI">{{Cite web|url=http://www.kannadakavi.com/kavikoota/13nataka/samsa.htm|title= Kannada kavi 'Samsa'|language=Kannada|website=Kannadakavi.com|access-date=11 Oct 2020}}</ref>
| death_place = [[Mysore]], [[Karnataka]], India
| occupation = {{hlist|Teacher|playwright|novelist}}
| language = [[Kannada language|Kannada]]
| nationality = [[India|Indian]]
| period =
| genre = Drama (historical)
| subject =
| parents = Narasimha Panditha<br>Gowramma
| movement =
| spouse =
| children =
| signature =
| website =
}}

'''A. N. Swamy Venkatadri Iyer''' (13 January 1898 - 14 February 1939), known by his pen name as '''Samsa''', was an early 20th century's Indian historical playwright in [[Kannada language]]. His plays ''Suguna Gambhira'', ''Vigada Vikramaraya'' and ''Bettada Arasu'' have been made into stage dramas and prescribed as textbooks in various universities in Karnataka.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.deccanherald.com/content/277403/samsa-native-mandya.html|title=Samsa a native of Mandya|work=Deccan Herald|date=8 Sep 2012|access-date=11 Sep 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.prajavani.net/article/%E0%B2%AE%E0%B2%B9%E0%B3%80%E0%B2%B7%E0%B3%82%E0%B2%B0%E0%B2%B2%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%B2%E0%B2%BF-%E0%B2%AE%E0%B2%A4%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%A4%E0%B3%86-%E0%B2%B8%E0%B2%82%E0%B2%B8|title=ಮಹಿಷೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತೆ ಸಂಸ|trans-title=Samsa again, in Mahishur|author=Santosh Guddiyangadi|work=Prajavani|date=4 Apr 2013|access-date=11 Oct 2020}}</ref> He was called as ''Shakespeare of Kannada Drama''.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tvV_A-ayyZUC&q=samsa+kannada+writer&pg=PA172
|title=India's Shakespeare: Translation, Interpretation, and Performance|editor=Poonam Trivedi & Dennis Bartholomeusz|publisher=Pearson Education India|isbn=978-8177581317|page=172| year=2005|accessdate=26 Oct 2020}}</ref> An open air theatre in the premises of government owned [[Ravindra Kalakshetra]], is named after Samsa.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/raveendra-kalakshetra-nayana-samsa-to-get-a-facelift/article6500957.ece|title=Raveendra Kalakshetra, Nayana, Samsa to get a facelift|work=The Hindu |author=Muralidhara Khajane|date= 15 Oct 2014|access-date=11 Oct 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kalakshetra.kannadasiri.co.in/home/hall_list?id=cHJhZmZ1bGtwYW53YXI1NDY=|title=Kannada and Culture Department: Ravindra Kalakshetra - Samsa Open Air Theatre|website=kalakshetra.kannadasiri.co.in|access-date=11 Oct 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://m.timesofindia.com/topic/Samsa-Bayalu-Rangamandira/news|title=Samsa Bayalu Rangamandira|work=Times of India|date=27 Jan 2019|access-date=11 Oct 2020}}</ref>

== Personal life ==

Samsa was born as Venkatadri Iyer to Narasimha Pandita and Gowramma in Agara, [[Yelandur]] in erstwhile [[Kingdom of Mysore]]. He worked in various schools and offices as teacher and clerk across Mysore, Hassan, Mumbai and other places. He was known for his eccentric behavior. He remained unmarried and led a secluded life.
He suffered from Persecution Complex and used to wander from one place to another.<ref name="Samsa">{{Cite news|url= https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/opinion/views/Vigada-Vikrama-Raaya-Bettada-Arasu-and-Birudentembara-Ganda-Kannada-playwrights/articleshow/46335382.cms?|title=The troubled genius of an iconic Kannada writer|author=Mamta Sagar|work=Bangalore Mirror|date=22 Feb 2015|access-date=11 Oct 2020}}</ref>

== As writer ==

It's said that Samsa had written more than 23 dramas out of which only 6 are available.<ref name="KANAJA">{{Cite web|url=http://kanaja.in/?tribe_events=%E0%B2%B8%E0%B2%82%E0%B2%B8|title=ಸಂಸ|trans-title=Samsa|language=Kannada|website=Kanaja.com|access-date=11 Oct 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.udayavani.com/district-news/chamarajanagar-news/kannada-rajyotsava-special|title=ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಮುಕುಟಮಣಿಗಳಿಗಿಲ್ಲ ಆಸರೆ|trans-title=Famous Kannada poets are not remembered|work=Udayavani|author=Firoz Khan|language=Kannada|date=1 Nov 2019|access-date=11 Oct 2020}}</ref> He is regarded as the first historical playwright in modern [[Kannada literature]]. His plays were based on the administration and history of Mysore kings in the [[Kingdom of Mysore]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sallapa.com/2013/09/blog-post_6654.html?m=0|title=Samsa|language=Kannada|website=Sallapa|access-date=11 Oct 2020}}</ref> The language he used in dramas was Halegannada ({{lit|old Kannada}}).<ref name="CLASSICAL">{{Cite web|url=https://www.karnataka.com/personalities/samasa-kannada-novelist/|title=The classical novelist - Samsa|author=Madur|website=Karnataka.com|access-date=11 Oct 2020}}</ref>

===Plays===
* ''Suguna Gambhira''
* ''Birudanthembara Ganda''
* ''Vigada Vikramaraya''
* ''Bettada Arasu''
* ''Vijayanarasimha''
* ''Manthrashakti''

===Novels===
* ''Koushala''
* ''Sherlock Homes in Jail''

===Poems===
* ''Shreemanthodyana Varnanam''
* ''Samsapadam''
* ''Eeshaprakopana''
* ''Naraka Duryodhaneeyam''
* ''Acchumba''

== Death ==

Samsa committed suicide on 14 February 1939 in a small room of [[Sadvidya Pathashala|Sadvidya School]], [[Mysore]] where he spent last years of his life.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bookbrahma.com/author/samsa-a-n-swami-venkatadri-ayyar|title=Playwright Samsa|language=Kannada|website=Bookbrahma|access-date=11 Oct 2020}}</ref> He left a suicide note:{{quote box
|quote=“I am leaving thirty one rupees, one anna and nine pies in the purse in my pocket; this amount is, after my death for my body to be cremated, which I wish to be cremated in some open place and without any religious ceremony whatsoever, as I have no faith in any religion”.<ref name="Samsa"/>
|bgcolor = #CCDDFF
|align = left
|salign = right
|width = 20em
}}

== Books on Samsa ==
Many writers have tried bringing things out from Samsa's secluded life. Notable works on him are:

* "''Samsa Kavi''" (Biography) - [[G. P. Rajarathnam]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bookbrahma.com/book/samsa-kavi|title=Samsa Kavi by G. P. Rajarathnam|work=BookBrahma.com|accessdate=18 Nov 2020}}</ref>
* "''Samsa Smarane: Jeevana Chithrana''" - Aa. Na. Subramanyam <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.in/Samsa-Smarane-Aa-Naa-Subramanyam/dp/B00LCG0RYA|title='Samsa Smarane': Biography of Samsa|author=A. N. Subramanyam|publisher=Nudi Kannada Total Kannada.com}}</ref>
* "''Neegikonda Samsa''" (play) - Ki. Ram. Nagaraj<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2010/may/05/a-legend-in-oral-tradition-152318.html|title=A legend in oral tradition|work=The New Indian Express|date=5 May 2010|accessdate=3 Nov 2020}}</ref>
* "''Samsa''" (novel) - Prof. Maleyur Guruswamy <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.prajavani.net/amp/district/mysore/samsa-novel-released-768045.html|title='ಸಂಸ' ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ|trans-title='Samsa' novel published|language=Kannada|work=Prajavani|date=4 Oct 2020|access-date=11 Oct 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://starofmysore.com/samsa-novel-released/#aoh=16023948572515&csi=1&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s|title='Samsa' novel released|work=Star of Mysore|date=6 Oct 2020|access-date=11 Oct 2020}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Writers in British India]]
[[Category:Kannada poets]]
[[Category:1898 births]]
[[Category:1939 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian writers]]
[[Category:Kannada people]]
[[Category:1939 suicides]]

Samsa (writer) - Revision history

imported>Treehouse.poet: added Category:1939 suicides using HotCat