Telangana dialect in the mainstream cinema is definitively witnessing a significant development. So far, the dialect was used only by specific set of actors. Habitually the lead actors do not speak Telangana dialect, but, the villain and comedians do. The distortion of Telangana culture has been most significant in Telugu films.
In Mondi Mogudu Penki Pellam, the heroine Vijayashanti speaks Telangana dialect and plays wife of Police officer. The husband was always embarrassed by her language and in the first scene he shields her by saying “she is doing research in Telangana Dialect”. Adapting the dialect in movies was like one step forward two step backwards. However, in the recent past the slang has seen substantial headway in Telugu movies. Heart throb Sai Pallavi playing a role of the girl from Bhanswada, Nizamabad and enunciating the words is strong message that the actress and the director Shekar Kammula are sending out to their peers through their upcoming flick Fidaa. The video featuring Sai Pallavi rehearsing the dialogue and the teaser, already evoked interest in the character. Sai Pallavi’s role will also help in understanding the beauty of the dialect and culture.
The slang after a long wait is finding its own voice in conventional Telugu cinema. National Award winning film ‘Pellichoopulu’ and recent flick Ami Tumi had major star cast conversing in Telangana dialect. The audience took it positively without demeaning. A different dialect is going to give a distinctive vision of culture.
Despite Allu Arjun and Mahesh Babu using the slang in Rudrama Devi and Dookudu respectively, portrayal and acceptance of Telangana culture has still long way to go in cinema. Sai Pallavi as Telangana girl will likely make the world of cinema, a new world in itself. Quoting Sterling Brown “Dialect or speech of the people is capable of expressing whatever the people are.”
