Amaravati Kathalu

Amaravati Kathalu is a collection of Telugu short stories written by Satyam Sankaramanchi. The anthology, comprising 100 stories, revolves around the village of Amaravati and its people. These stories were first serialized in the Andhra Jyothi weekly magazine between 1975 and 1977 and were later compiled into a book by Navodaya Publishers, featuring illustrations by the renowned artist Bapu. Widely regarded as a landmark in Telugu literature, the collection has been reprinted multiple times.

The stories in Amaravati Kathalu are inspired by incidents and folklore associated with Amaravati. They follow a Chekhovian style, focusing on the everyday lives of the villagers and offering heartwarming narratives. Each story is accompanied by a simple yet evocative illustration by Bapu, enhancing the book's appeal. The foreword for the collection was written by Mullapudi Venkata Ramana. The stories were dictated by Sankaramanchi to All India Radio newsreader Prayaga Ramakrishna, who transcribed them.

The collection won the Andhra Sahitya Academy Award in 1979 and is regarded as one of the finest Telugu short story collections of the 20th century. It has been praised for its imaginative storytelling and depiction of rural life. A television series based on the stories, titled Amaravati Ki Kathayein (1995), was directed by Shyam Benegal.