During the peak of the Telangana movement in the pre-2014 era of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, activists vehemently criticized the dominance of Andhra personalities in the film industry, accusing them of monopolizing Telugu cinema.
Occasionally, there were even instances of film crews being attacked during shoots. A decade later, as the period of discrimination seemed to be a thing of the past, a new controversy involving veteran music composer MM Keeravani has emerged.
The Revanth Reddy administration recently assigned the task of composing the Telangana state anthem to Keeravani. This decision was met with criticism from the Telangana Musicians Association, which sent a letter to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy condemning the choice.
The Association criticized the decision on the basis of Keeravani’s Andhra identity, arguing that the opportunity should have been given to a musician from Telangana. The letter questions the Revanth Reddy government, asking the rationale behind selecting an Andhrite when the Telangana state was formed to provide more opportunities for Telanganites.
While their demands may seem reasonable to some, the criticism of Keeravani, who has earned national and international acclaim and brought pride to the entire Telugu populace, is unwarranted.
Such demands are problematic as they promote division based on regional identities rather than recognizing and celebrating the shared heritage of Telugu-speaking people. Luminaries like MM Keeravani belong not only to all Telugu people but to all Indians.
