Veteran folk artistes may not be able to get patronage either from the government and society here in India but their worth is being recognised by Telugu associations of Malaysia. Several veteran artistes trained youngsters in Kuala Lumpur and Bagan Datuk (formerly known as Bagan Datoh) and other places of Malaysia between the second week of September to third week of October, 2025.
Founder of Gidugu Ramamurthy Telugu Bhasha and Janapada Kalapeetham Badri Kurmarao has helped the artistes Matsa Taviti Naidu of Jaggarajupeta of Nellimarla and Kandi Saikumar of Cheepurupalli to train the children of Telugu families in Malaysia almost for one month. Malaysia Telugu Academy president S.Venkata Prathap and former president K. Atchayya Kumar and other members of the association contacted Mr. Kurma Rao and requested him to send senior artistes to Malaysia after assuring flight charges, accommodation and ₹50,000 honorarium for the group of artistes.
The Telugu people, who settled in Malaysia, are happy with the training programmes, which helped their children to learn folk arts like Chekka Bhajana, Kolatam, Bhajan, Seva Garidi, Burra Katha and folk songs and other dances. “We request the government to enable the veteran artistes to conduct training programmes for children at temples and cultural centers located here. It will lead to protect the great art forms, culture and traditions of North Andhra districts,” said Mr. Kurma Rao.
Published – October 19, 2025 03:38 pm IST
