Tenali Rama stories, the eternal kids’ favorites, are now coming to you as a 10-set mini skit series, perfect for school stage or holiday home-fun!
Enjoy the captivating 15th century folk tales full of wit and brilliance. Need we underline the fantastic English language practice they provide!
Feel free to use these to perform as a skit in your school or at a birthday party with EnglishGeni’s easy step-by-step instructions! More kids is more fun, and with the wholesome fun of Tenali Rama stories, one couldn’t wish for more.
Who Was Tenali Rama?
Tenali Rama, also referred to as Tenali Ramalinga, was a famed Telugu poet who held great stature in the the court of emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara empire.
Tenali Rama lost his father early in life, and his desire to become a disciple of respected scholars was rejected. However, legend has it that Goddess Kali, impressed with his devoted prayers and natural humour, bestowed her blessings on him. Later, fame and honor followed as his religious compositions too found a wide audience.
Language Level & Suggested Age
Suggested Age: Young kids aged 5 to 10
Language Level: Basic to Intermediate learners for group or individual English practice.
Story Format: Mini Skit or Drama
- The stories are set in an enjoyable dialogue format so that a group of kids can enact the story. Each kid can quickly learn up these short dialogues that tie into the story.
- Immersing kids in the English language is a natural way to get them to improve their confidence and speaking skills, sans the stress of a school text book.
For each skit, here are the steps:
1. Narrator introduces skit characters, storyline, and scene
2. Performers enact the dialogues
3. Narrator ends the skit with the moral of the story
- Each story can be introduced by a narrator who will introduce the characters in the story and explain the setting of the story- i.e when and where it takes place.
- Now, children can practice their dialogues and perform together as a mini-skit or a play.
Please note that these Tenali Rama stories are great practice not just for kids but for any English language learner who is under the intermediate level of English.
Story 1: Tenali Rama and the Rich Man’s Promise
| Characters: -Tenali Rama -Rich Man -Villager-1, Villager-2, and a few more villagers | Scene: A village square with people gathered around. Narrator: To introduce the story and end the skit with the moral of the story |
Narrator Introduction: Here’s a small skit based on a Tenali Rama story. Once upon a time in a small village, a rich man decided to test the villagers with a riddle. But little did he know, Tenali Rama was there, ready to solve it with his quick wit!
Rich Man: (loudly) I’m so rich! If anyone can answer my riddle, I’ll give them 100 gold coins!
Villager 1: (whispering) I wonder what the riddle is.
Villager 2: (whispering) Tenali Rama will solve it for sure.
Tenali Rama: (smiling) Alright, what’s your riddle?
Rich Man: (smugly) What is something that belongs to you but is used more by others?
Villager 3: (confused) Belongs to me, but others use it more? That’s tricky!
Tenali Rama: (grinning) That’s an easy one! The answer is… my name!
Rich Man: (surprised) Your name?
Tenali Rama: (nodding) Yes! My name belongs to me, but other people say it more than I do.
Villagers: (cheering) He did it again! Tenali solved the riddle!
Rich Man: (sighing) Very clever, Tenali. I must keep my promise.
Tenali Rama: (chuckling) Don’t worry. I’ll use the gold coins to help the village.
Villager 1: (cheerfully) You always think of others, Tenali!
Villager 2: (smiling) That’s why we love him!
Narrator Conclusion: This is how Tenali solved the riddle with a simple yet clever answer, providing us with a great moral: Sometimes, the simplest answers are the hardest to see!
Story 2: Tenali Rama and the King’s Dream
| Characters: King Tenali Rama Minister | Scene: The royal court, with the King looking puzzled. Narrator: To introduce the story and end the skit with the moral of the story |
Narrator Intro: Here’s a little performance based on the famous Tenali Rama stories. One day, the King had a strange dream and called for Tenali Rama to help him understand its meaning. Let’s see what happens in the royal court.
King: (worried) I had a strange dream last night, Tenali.
Tenali Rama: (curious) What was it about, Your Majesty?
King: (confused) I saw a huge snake sitting on my throne! What does it mean?
Minister: (seriously) It’s a bad omen, Your Majesty. We must do a big puja to stop the danger!
Tenali Rama: (laughing softly) A snake on your throne? It means someone wants to steal your power!
King: (alarmed) Really?
Tenali Rama: (calmly) Yes, but don’t worry, Your Majesty. As long as you are just and fair, no one can harm you.
King: (relieved) Ah, so my dream is just a warning?
Tenali Rama: (nodding) Exactly. Stay wise, and no snake, real or dreamt, will take your throne.
Minister: (impressed) As always, Tenali has the best advice!
Narrator Conclusion: Isn’t it amazing how Tenali wisely calmed the King’s fears, reminding him that wisdom and fairness will keep him safe. Let’s remember the moral of this story: Dreams may warn us, but wisdom keeps us safe.
Story 3: Tenali Rama and the Naughty Bullies
| Characters: Tenali Rama Villagers Bullies | Scene: A group of bullies tease villagers in the market square. Narrator: To introduce the story and end the skit with the moral of the story |
Narrator Introduction: Who doesn’t the famous Telugu poet, Tenali Ramalinga. Today, we are going to perform a little skit based on the Tenali Rama folk tales.
Here’s the story: In the village, some naughty bullies were causing trouble, but Tenali Rama wasn’t going to let them get away with it. Watch how he uses his cleverness to teach them a lesson.
Bully 1: (mocking) Look at this old man, so weak!
Bully 2: (laughing) Let’s take his food!
Villager: (scared) Please, don’t!
Tenali Rama: (walking up) Hey, you two! What are you doing?
Bully 1: (angrily) None of your business, Tenali!
Tenali Rama: (smiling) I’ll make a deal. If you can beat me at a challenge, you can keep the food.
Bully 2: (laughing) A challenge? Fine! What is it?
Tenali Rama: (smiling) Lift that heavy boulder over there.
Bully 1: (confident) Easy!
(The bullies try, but they can’t lift the boulder.)
Bully 2: (exhausted) This is impossible!
Tenali Rama: (laughing) Then leave the villagers alone! You see, being strong isn’t everything.
Villagers: (cheering) Thank you, Tenali!
Narrator Conclusion: We hope you enjoyed watching how the bullies learned that real strength comes from helping others, not from hurting them. Let’s always remember the great moral of this story: Real strength comes from helping, not bullying.
Story 4: Tenali Rama and the Talking Donkey
| Characters: Tenali Rama King Donkey seller | Scene: A donkey seller in the palace, with a donkey beside him. Narrator: To introduce the story and end the skit with the moral of the story |
Seller: (proudly) Your Majesty, this is no ordinary donkey. It can talk!
King: (amused) Really? Can you prove it?
Seller: (smiling) Of course. I just need ten days to teach it.
King: (interested) Alright, Tenali will look after the donkey until then.
Tenali Rama: (smiling) I’d be happy to!
(Ten days pass, but the donkey doesn’t talk.)
King: (angrily) Where’s the talking donkey?
Seller: (nervously) Uh, it’s not ready yet…
Tenali Rama: (laughing) Your Majesty, the only one doing the talking is this man!
King: (laughing) Ah, you’re right, Tenali. He’s fooled us all!
Narrator Conclusion: This funny story of Tenali showed the King that not everything is as it seems. We must learn from the story a valuable lesson: Don’t believe everything you hear — always question and think for yourself!
Story 5: Tenali Rama and the Magic Stick
| Characters: King Tenali Rama Minister | Scene: The royal court, with the King holding a stick. Narrator: To introduce the story and end the skit with the moral of the story |
Narrator Introduction: I welcome you to enjoy this short performance of one of Tenali Rama stories.
Here’s how the story goes: The King believed he had a magic stick that could reveal the truth, and he asked Tenali Rama to help catch a thief. Watch how Tenali’s cleverness reveals the truth.
King: (seriously) I have a magic stick, Tenali. It grows shorter every time someone lies.
Tenali Rama: (surprised) Really? That’s interesting.
King: (nodding) Yes, I will use it to find the thief in my palace.
Minister: (nervously) A good idea, Your Majesty.
King: (to all) Whoever has stolen the gold, touch this stick. We’ll know if you’re lying.
(Everyone touches the stick, but nothing happens.)
Tenali Rama: (smiling) Let me see the stick, Your Majesty.
(Tenali inspects the stick, then speaks.)
Tenali Rama: (laughing) Your Majesty, the thief has already confessed. The one who touched the stick last trimmed it a little before touching it!
King: (laughing) Ah, clever as always, Tenali!
Narrator Conclusion: Well, you saw how in the end, the truth came out because of Tenali’s wisdom. We hope as you enjoyed this performance you noted its moral: Truth always comes out, one way or another.
Story 6: Tenali Rama and the Thieves
| Characters: Tenali Rama Thieves Tenali’s Wife | Scene: Tenali’s house at night, with two thieves sneaking around. Narrator: To introduce the story and end the skit with the moral of the story |
Narrator Introduction: Here’s presenting an enjoyable little drama based on the folk tales of Tenali Ramakrishna, the much-loved Telugu poet.
This is how the story goes: Late one night, two thieves planned to rob Tenali Rama’s house. But little did they know, Tenali was always one step ahead. Let’s see how he outwits them.
Thief 1: (whispering) Let’s break in and steal everything!
Thief 2: (nodding) Yes, but be quiet!
(Inside the house, Tenali overhears them.)
Tenali Rama: (whispering to his wife) I have an idea. Let’s pretend we’re hiding our gold in the well.
Tenali’s Wife: (nervous) Will it work?
Tenali Rama: (grinning) Let’s see.
(Tenali speaks loudly, pretending to hide gold in the well.)
Tenali Rama: (loudly) The gold is safe in the well now!
(The thieves hear this and run to the well.)
Thief 1: (excited) Let’s get the gold!
(The thieves start pulling out buckets of water, but there’s no gold.)
Tenali Rama: (laughing) Enjoy your bath, thieves!
Narrator Conclusion: It has to be so! The thieves had to learn that Tenali’s cleverness couldn’t be outmatched. And, we have a great take-away from this story: Outwit those with bad intentions using clever thinking.
Story 7: Tenali Rama and the Royal Parrot
| Characters: King Tenali Rama Parrot Trainer | Scene: The royal garden with a colorful parrot sitting on a perch. Narrator: To introduce the story and end the skit with the moral of the story |
Narrator Introduction: I invite you to sit back and enjoy this short performance of one of Tenali Rama stories. We hope you enjoy it.
Here’s the storyline: The King had a parrot that could talk, and he was very proud of it. But Tenali Rama wondered if the parrot’s words had any true meaning. Let’s see what happens next.
King: (proudly) Look, Tenali! I have a parrot that can speak! Isn’t it marvelous?
Tenali Rama: (smiling) That’s impressive, Your Majesty. What does it say?
Parrot Trainer: (boasting) It can say anything, Sir! Just ask it a question.
King: (eagerly) Parrot, who is the greatest king?
Parrot: (squawking) You, Your Majesty!
Tenali Rama: (laughing softly) It’s well-trained indeed!
King: (grinning) See, Tenali? Even the parrot knows my greatness!
Tenali Rama: (thoughtfully) But, Your Majesty, this parrot will say whatever it is taught. What if it says something untrue?
King: (surprised) You mean it could be lying?
Tenali Rama: (nodding) Yes, wisdom comes not from repeating words, but from understanding them.
Narrator Conclusion: This is how Tenali taught the King that true knowledge comes from understanding, not just repeating words. Here’s a valuable takeaway for all of us: True knowledge lies in understanding, not just in repeating words.
Story 8: Tenali Rama and the Scholar
| Characters: Tenali Rama Scholar King | Scene: The royal court, with a scholar boasting to the King. Narrator: To introduce the story and end the skit with the moral of the story |
Narrator Introduction: We’re happy to present for your enjoyment a Tenali Rama story as a short skit.
This is the story of the proud scholar who claimed to be the wisest man in the kingdom. However, Tenali Rama had a simple question that would test his knowledge. Let’s watch how it unfolds.
Scholar: (proudly) Your Majesty, I am the wisest man in the kingdom!
King: (impressed) Is that so? Can you answer any question?
Scholar: (confidently) Of course! Test me if you like.
Tenali Rama: (smiling) Alright, here’s a question for you. What is the most important thing in the world?
Scholar: (thinking) Hmm, knowledge?
Tenali Rama: (shaking his head) No, it’s time!
Scholar: (confused) Time?
Tenali Rama: (nodding) Yes, because without time, you can’t gain knowledge or do anything else!
King: (laughing) Tenali, you’ve shown us what true wisdom is!
Narrator Conclusion: That is how Tenali showed that true wisdom lies in understanding the value of time. We hope your enjoyed this little presentation and noted the moral as well: Time is the most precious thing we have.
Story 9: Tenali Rama and the Blind Man’s Dinner
| Characters: Tenali Rama Blind Man Neighbor | Scene: A neighbor’s house where a blind man is having dinner. Narrator: To introduce the story and end the skit with the moral of the story |
Narrator Introduction: We’re delighted to present a short performance of a Tenali Rama story. We hope you enjoy it.
The theme of the story is that one day, Tenali Rama and his neighbor were curious about how a blind man could tell whether it was day or night while eating. Watch as Tenali reveals the answer.
Neighbor: (confused) How does the blind man know whether it’s day or night when he eats?
Tenali Rama: (smiling) Let’s ask him!
Neighbor: (nodding) Good idea.
Tenali Rama: (to the blind man) Sir, how do you know if it’s daytime or nighttime when you eat?
Blind Man: (laughing) It’s simple! I don’t eat when I’m hungry; I eat when the food is served!
Neighbor: (surprised) Oh, that’s clever!
Tenali Rama: (laughing) See, everyone has their own way of seeing the world!
Narrator Conclusion: As you just watched. everyone has their own way of seeing the world, even if it’s not obvious at first. That is our lesson here: Everyone has unique strengths, even if we don’t see them at first.
Story 10: Tenali Rama and the Magic Tree
| Characters: King Tenali Rama Villager | Scene: A large tree in the village with the King, Tenali Rama, and a villager gathered beneath it. Narrator: To introduce the story and end the skit with the moral of the story |
Narrator Introduction: We invite you to enjoy this little group enactment of one of Tenali Rama stories, which are known for their witty charm. We certainly hope you like it!
Here’s how the story begins: In the village, people believed there was a magical tree that could grant wishes. The King asked Tenali Rama to investigate. Let’s find out the truth behind the tree.
Villager: (pleading) Your Majesty, this tree is magical! It grants wishes, but only if it’s touched by the wisest man in the kingdom.
King: (curious) Really? And who should touch it then?
Villager: (nervously) I… I don’t know. Everyone says Tenali is the wisest.
King: (laughing) Let’s see if the tree works, then. Tenali, come and touch the tree.
Tenali Rama: (smiling) I will, but let me tell you something first, Your Majesty.
King: (interested) What is it?
Tenali Rama: (grinning) This tree is just an ordinary tree. The true magic lies in our own hard work and wisdom, not in a tree.
Villager: (surprised) So, there’s no magic?
Tenali Rama: (laughing) No, but the magic of wisdom and effort is greater than any tree’s power.
King: (nodding) Well said, Tenali. You always know how to uncover the truth!
Narrator Conclusion: This is how, in the end, Tenali showed that the real magic comes from wisdom and hard work. This funny tale leaves us with a good moral: Real magic comes from wisdom and hard work.
Conclusion
We certainly hope the kids out there try out these little skits! You learn best when you’re having fun! Maybe you should act out these stories over your weekend or your school vacations!
If you’re ready for some longer Tenali Rama stories, here is a collection of some well-written ones. Go ahead and enjoy those as well! Or, pick more stories from EnglishGeni! We’re like to suggest:
Picture Composition for Class 1
Picture Composition for Class 2
5 Lines Short Stories with Moral
10 Lines Short Stories with Moral
200 Simple Sentences for Kids with Hindi Meaning
