It’s a bittersweet truth: while veteran folk artists in India often struggle for recognition and support from their own government and society, their immense talent and cultural significance are being celebrated and championed by Telugu associations in Malaysia. In a heartwarming initiative, a group of these experienced artists spent over a month, from mid-September to late October 2025, in Malaysia, meticulously training young Telugu descendants in traditional art forms across cities like Kuala Lumpur and Bagan Datuk (formerly Bagan Datoh).
This invaluable cultural exchange was made possible through the dedicated efforts of Badri Kurmarao, founder of the Gidugu Ramamurthy Telugu Bhasha and Janapada Kalapeetham. He facilitated the journey for esteemed artists like Matsa Taviti Naidu from Jaggarajupeta, Nellimarla, and Kandi Saikumar from Cheepurupalli, enabling them to impart their knowledge to the children of Malaysian Telugu families for nearly a month. The initiative garnered strong support from the Malaysia Telugu Academy, whose president, S. Venkata Prathap, and former president, K. Atchayya Kumar, along with other members, took the lead in contacting Mr. Kurma Rao. They graciously covered all flight expenses, accommodation, and provided a generous honorarium of ₹50,000 to the performing group.
The response from the Telugu diaspora in Malaysia was overwhelmingly positive. Parents were delighted to see their children enthusiastically embrace diverse folk arts such as Chekka Bhajana, Kolatam, Bhajan, Seva Garidi, Burra Katha, traditional folk songs, and various dances. Inspired by this success, Mr. Kurma Rao passionately appealed to the Indian government to support similar training initiatives back home. He urged authorities to establish programs for these veteran artists to teach children in local temples and cultural centers, emphasizing that such efforts are crucial for safeguarding the rich art forms, culture, and traditions of the North Andhra districts.