Tanikella Bharani conferred Kaloji Memorial Award

Actor, screenwriter, dialogue writer, poet, theatre actor, playwright and director, Tanikella Bharani is a rare talent. The Tollywood veteran was recently conferred the Kaloji Memorial Award at a grand ceremony that marked the 104th birth anniversary of poet, freedom fighter and political activist Kaloji Narayana Rao, on September 12. Speaking on the occasion, Tanikella said that his life has come full circle after receiving the honour.
“I was lucky to have met Kaloji garu in an event that was organised in his honour in Warangal. I remember felicitating him by wrapping a shawl around his shoulder. It was an honour I’ll never forget. I am happy that I could contribute my bit and enable the use of colloquial Telugu words in mainstream films and literature. I feel blessed to have got an award instated in his memory,” he said.
Tanikella Bharani has always been an ardent admirer of Kaloji’s work, particularly his poetry series Naa Godava. Addressing Kaloji as the “Pothana of our times whose simplicity belies his literary command”, Tanikella said, “Lines such as ‘Okka sira chukka laksha medallaku kadalika’ (One drop of ink can move lakhs of minds into action) and ‘Suryudu udayinchadu anedi niraasa, udayinchadu alage undipothadu anedi duraasa’ (To say the sun will not rise is disappointment, saying the sun won’t set at all is a hopeless wish) bear testimony his literary genius. His inspiring writings and poems played a key role in motivating people during Telangana movement.”
Tanikella stressed that being born in Telangana, his love for the language is eternal. “My family moved here in 1934. I was born here and have been in love with the colloquial Telangana dialect ever since. I even wrote a play titled Grahanam Pattina Ratri that was set in the heart of the region. It was well received across literary circles. I am fond of my writing in the film Mondi Mogudu Penki Pellam, one of the first films to feature a mainstream actor like Vijayashanti speaking in Karimnagar-slang,” he said.
Stressing on the need to popularise Kaloji’s work among today’s youngsters, the Nandi Award winner said, “We can make his work reach youngsters by organising literary events and competitions in schools and colleges. We can also use mainstream media to spread Kaloji’s work among the public. Also it’s important to honour litterateurs when they are alive; sadly Kaloji never got his due in his lifetime.”