A. N. Prahlada Rao (born 24 July 1953) is an Indian author and Kannada-language crossword compiler/ Constructor.
A. N. Prahlada Rao was born at Abbani in the Kolar district of Karnataka, India. He started his career as a journalist and was the founder editor of Honnudi.[1]
Rao's involvement in crossword compilation is a hobby that developed from an interest in solving both Kannada and English crosswords while a student in the mid-1970s. He joined the Karnataka Information Department in 1983 in a public relations role and it was at that time he began to compile seriously. He now works as Media Coordinator to Minister for RDPR and IT BT, Government of Karnataka and compiles daily puzzles, sometimes with assistance from his wife. He specialises in themed puzzles and has a particular fondness for cinema. They have appeared in daily, weekly and fortnightly publications such as Prajavani, Samyukta Karnataka, Shakthi, Mangala, Vijaya Karnataka and Ee Sanje. Now he is creating daily Crosswords for Vijaya Karnataka, Samyukta Karnataka andPrajavani (Sahapati). By the end of 2018 July he has composed 42,000 Crosswords and quiz puzzles. Compilation initially took him around two hours but he had reduced that to no more than 20 minutes.[2][3]
Aside from producing crosswords, Rao also sets quizzes for several publications, drawing on the same trivia and reference books that he has amassed for his compilation efforts. The front wall of his house includes a crossword grid of black and white tiles.[2][3]
He has contributed his crosswords to more than 40 Kannada periodicals in the 25 years to 2016.[4]
The first volumes of Kannada crossword puzzles compiled by Rao were launched on 14 February 2008.[5] Three of the five Kannada crossword books are based on general knowledge, one on Kannada cinema, and another one for children.
To mark the centenary of the first crossword, in 2013 Rao wrote two Kannada crossword books, titled Pada Kreede and Pada Looka. Each contained 160 crosswords.[6][7]
5 More Kannada Crossword books has released on 15.01.2017, titled Padajala, Padajaga, Padaranga, Padasampada and Padavyuha. Prof. Doddarangegowda, Poet released the books.
6 One more Crossword book containg of 180 crossword published in 2021. Book has been published by Vasanta Prakashana (https://www.flipkart.com/padahaasu/p/itm9099917badc0a)
As of 2016, Rao is noted in the Limca Book of Records for creating the greatest number of crosswords in a regional language.[8]
His name has included in Kalam Book of World Records in 2019.[9][10]
A.N.Prahlada Rao's name has included in Asian Record Academy in 2021.[11]
In 2009, 75 books about people who had contributed to Kannada cinema were released as part of the Platinum Jubilee Kannada Cinema-75 organised by Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce. Among those books were two by Rao, being his earlier work on Rajakumar[13] and T. S. Karibasaiah.
A.N.Prahlada Rao has inducted into the PR Hall of Fame, and felicitated with prestigious PRCI awards at the 12th Global Communication Conclave held at Pune, March 2018.[16]