Telangana Government Celebrates Bhakta Ramadasu Jayanti And Introduces Gaddar Film Awards, Promoting arts and Honoring Cultural Icons.
- Bhakta Ramadasu Jayanti Celebrations
- Ugadi Gaddar Telangana Film Awards
- TG Government promotes the arts
- Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka
Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to promoting the arts and honoring artists. He announced that the Telangana government will officially host the Kancharla Gopanna, also known as the Bhakta Ramadasu Jayanti Celebrations, every year. Additionally, the government has introduced the Gaddar Telangana Cinema Awards, set to take place during the upcoming Ugadi festival.
The 392nd Bhakta Ramadasu Jayanti Celebrations were held at the LB Indoor Stadium on Sunday under the auspices of the Telangana Government’s Sangeeta Natak Academy. The event was graced by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, BC Welfare and Roads Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, and Women and Child Welfare Minister Dhanasari Sitakka.
During his address, Vikramarka emphasized that the Bhakta Ramadasu Jayanti celebrations will be an annual tradition in Telangana, similar to the Thyagaraja Swamy worship festivals in Tamil Nadu. He highlighted Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s dedication to the development of arts and reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting musicians and drama artists, similar to how film artists are recognized.
He also spoke about the legacy of Bhakta Ramadasu, a revered devotee who composed hymns in praise of Lord Srirama despite enduring severe hardships. Vikramarka expressed pride in representing the state, particularly the district where Bhakta Ramadasu was born. He recalled the historical significance of the Bhadrachalam Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy Temple, which was restored during the Tanisha regime after a period of neglect. He urged musicians and orators to draw inspiration from Bhakta Ramadasu and promote devotional values within the community.
Criticizing the previous government, Vikramarka noted that artists had been neglected over the past decade, with the Nandi Awards being overlooked. However, the new government, under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, aims to rectify this by promoting artists in various fields. In line with this vision, the Gaddar Film Awards have been introduced to recognize talent in theater and cinema. The Chief Minister made this decision following a request from Dr. Alekhya Punjala. Similar to the Nandi Drama Festival, the Gaddar Film Awards will be an annual event to honor outstanding artists.
Minister Ponnam Prabhakar emphasized that artistic talent is a rare gift bestowed upon a few individuals, and those blessed with it should contribute to the cultural development of society. Minister Dhanasari Sitakka echoed this sentiment, stating that a thriving artistic community leads to a prosperous state. Telangana Sangeetha Natak Academy President Dr. Alekhya Punjala revealed that over 600 musicians from across the state participated in the event. She also announced that the state government will celebrate Thyagaraja Swamy Jayanti on a grand scale on May 4th.
Prominent musicians and artists were honored at the event, including Padma Shri awardees Dr. Yella Venkateswara Rao, Dr. Shobharaju, and D. Uma Maheshwari, as well as Central Sangeet Natak Academy Award recipients like Hyderabad Brothers Raghavacharya and Hyderabad Sisters Haripriya. Bhakta Ramadasu’s successor from Nelakondapalli, Venkata Ramana, was also recognized. The event featured 26 teams performing Bhakta Ramadasu’s hymns for 10 hours in a devotional tribute, filling LB Stadium with the chants of Srirama.
The event was attended by Culture Secretary Smitha Sabharwal, Samskrutika Sarathi President Gumadi Vennela, Telangana Sangeetha Natak Academy Secretary B. Manohar, R. Vinod Kumar, and several other dignitaries. The celebrations underscored the government’s unwavering support for artists and its commitment to preserving Telangana’s rich cultural heritage.
