Lakshmikantam worked as a copyist for 2.5 years in the sub-court of
Vijayawada. After finishing his BA, he taught at Bandaru Noble School and later at Bandaru Noble College until 1926. After a brief stint at
Madras Oriental Manuscript Library as a researcher in 1927. Laksmikantam served as the Head of Telugu department, a division of
Andhra University College of Arts and Commerce from 1931 through 1949. He began this new career by preparing syllabus for Telugu and Sanskrit literature courses. He taught history and criticism of Telugu literature to BA (honors) and MA students. Later, he served as a Literary Adviser to
All India Radio and directed several
Sanskrit rupakas (dramas). He was appointed in 1954 as a member of working committee of Central Academy of Literature. In 1961, he was appointed as a professor at
Sri Venkateswara University,
Tirupati. From 1968 till his death, he served as a member of Board of Governors of
Telugu Academy and Chairman of Academic Council. He was the Head of the Department of Telugu at Madras Christian College. In the beginning of the 20th century, drama was very popular in Andhra. Lakshmikantam proficiently played several roles with his brother Narsayya. His roles included
Arjuna in "Gayopakhayanam,"
Krishna in "Narakasuravadha," Rakshasa in "Mudrarakshasam", and Dharmaraju in "Pandavodyogavijayalu." He also participated in another popular literary tradition called
Avadhanam. It was a fashion to write poetry as a pair. Pingali Lakshmikantam paired up with Katuri Venkateswarrao and became known as
Pingali- Katuri Poets. Their joint ventures were tolakari and soundaranandnam. ==Bibliography==