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Remembering Telangana's iconic balladeer: Tollywood reflects on Gaddar's legacy

Telangana's enigmatic revolutionary and poet Gaddar passed away o... Read More
Telangana's enigmatic balladeer, communist revolutionary, and poet Gaddar was laid to rest with state honours at Maha Bodhi Vidyalaya on Monday. A multitude of people converged at LB Stadium on Monday to bid a poignant farewell to the man whose artistic contributions were instrumental in the Telangana state movement.

The 74-year-old had a close brush with death 25 years ago too when he was shot by unknown assailants, leaving him with a bullet lodged in his spine. Old age and failing health finally caught up to Gaddar, born as Gummadi Vithal Rao in Toopran, who breathed his last in Hyderabad on Sunday.

The journey that began in the 1970s to fight against oppression also brought him to the film industry with Goutam Ghose’s Maa Bhoomi, and his songs contributed immensely to the parallel cinema movement. His passing leaves a void, but the words ‘Podustunna poddu meeda nadustunna kalama poru Telangamma’ will forever live on, believe his well-wishers.

Gaddar was the OG ‘angry young man’

Tollywood celebs pay tribute


Songs of rebellion

Bandennaka Bandi Khatti – Maa Bhoomi (1979)
Badram Koduko – Rangula Kala (1983)
Malle Theegaku Pandiri Vole – Orey Rickshaw (1995)
Podustunna Poddu Mida – Jai Bolo Telangana (2011)
Adavi Thalliki Vandanam – Dandakaranyam (2016)


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