Tandra Paparayudu

The 18-century Andhra folk hero Tandra Paparayudu (c.1700-1730), lieutenant of the Bobbili rani Mallamma Devi during the 24 January 1757 Battle of Bobbili. Though known for the earlier Vizianagaram-Bobbili conflict, Paparayudu's name endures through the Telugu folk ballad 'Bobbili Katha' in which, after the French-aided Vizianagaram army overran Bobbili Fort and the Rani ordered the women's jauhar, Paparayudu slipped out, reached Vizianagaram and killed Vijaya Rama Raju (the Vizianagaram raja) in revenge. The Bobbili katha is one of Telugu folk literature's foundational honour-vengeance narratives. His cenotaph at Bobbili remains a regional pilgrimage.