Youngsters turn to folk art to tell Musi’s story

Hyderabad: A group of youngsters from villages along the Musi river in the undivided Nalgonda district has launched a unique awareness initiative to draw attention to the river's rapidly deteriorating condition—by turning to folk art instead of protests or speeches.Bringing together Chindu Yaksha Ganam performers, Oggu Katha storytellers, folk singers, poets and artists, the group transformed stretches of the Musi's banks into open air performance spaces. Through songs, stories and performances rooted in local traditions, they traced the river's journey from its clean origins in Ananthagiri Hills to its heavily polluted state.Locals' voices addedUnlike conventional awareness campaigns, the initiative unfolded along the river itself. Performances were held near polluted stretches, farmland irrigated with Musi water, and under bridges where daily life continues alongside the river. The idea, organisers said, was to let the river and the people who live with it tell their own story. Balu Sandliyasa, one of the organisers, said the group focused on recording live experiences rather than delivering prepared messages.