How Nalgonda Gaddar Became Power-Packed Voice Of Political Rallies | Hyderabad News
Hyderabad: He had no formal training in music. He never worked as a professional singer either. For years, he earned his living as a car driver, real estate agent and small businessman, doing whatever was needed to support his family.Yet today, Narsi Reddy — better known as Nalgonda Gaddar — is one of the most sought-after folk voices for political campaign songs in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and even other neighbouring states.From roadshows to public meetings, birthdays to election campaigns, his booming folk voice has become part of the political soundscape.A self-taught singer from Nalgonda, Narsi Reddy has performed specially composed songs for chief ministers, former chief ministers, ministers, MPs, MLAs and local leaders.This list includes Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy, Andhra Pradesh chief minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu, former AP chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief & former Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and AP deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan.He has also sung for leaders in Karnataka, including current chief minister DK Shivakumar, particularly in areas bordering Telangana.His appeal lies in his earthy folk style, use of local idioms and powerful delivery. At political gatherings, his songs often turn routine leader entries into charged public moments. Across party lines, leaders and supporters have turned to him when they want a song that can connect instantly with the crowd.So far, he has sung more than 500 songs, most of them composed for politicians and election campaigns. “I am neither trained in music nor are any of my family members involved in music. My mother used to sing folk songs, and that is how I developed an interest in them. I consider myself an ‘Ekalavya Sishya’ of balladeer Gaddar,” Narsi Reddy told STOI.His first encouragement came while working as a car driver for Congress veteran Chakilam Srinivas Rao in Nalgonda during 1995-96. Later, during his association with former MP BN Reddy and present minister and Nalgonda MLA Komatireddy Venkat Reddy around 1998-99, he began singing folk and special songs more actively.Though he started singing in the mid-1990s, his breakthrough came around the 1999 Assembly elections. His deep voice and high-energy folk numbers began to be played at public meetings, rallies and roadshows.“To support my family financially, I worked as a real estate agent for some time in Nalgonda, while continuing my passion for singing,” he recalls.On how he came to be called Nalgonda Gaddar, he said the name was given by people who felt his voice and the issues he sang about reminded them of Gaddar.Customised songs for politiciansNarsi Reddy says political songs usually fall into three categories. The first type is written from the leader’s perspective. One such song is “Pulibidda Revanthanna”, released recently to mark 1,000 days of Congress performance.The second type reflects the people’s point of view for which he cites “Palamuru Jillalo Kondareddy Palle” that captures public emotion over Revanth Reddy’s rise as chief minister.The third type consists of general songs praising a party, its work, performance and ideology.For tailor-made political songs, Nalgonda Gaddar works with a team of lyricists and music composers. The process begins with understanding the client’s requirements — the leader’s background, political message, achievements and the mood the song must create. The team then writes the lyrics, composes the music and records the song after approval.While many leaders personally invite him to write and sing for them, others approach him through supporters for songs meant for rallies, public meetings, campaign launches and birthdays.Popularity cuts across party linesNarsi Reddy’s voice has travelled across political boundaries. He has sung for Congress leaders and for the BJP during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign visit to Telangana.One of the songs he recorded then was “Bharata Mata Kanniti Konetilo Kamalam Poosindi”. He has also lent his voice to songs for BJP leaders including G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay.He has sung for BRS too, including songs around K Chandrasekhar Rao and the party’s political message after the 2023 Assembly elections.Interestingly, he has also sung for the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). Since AIMIM largely connects with Urdu-speaking voters in Hyderabad’s Old City, party MLAs approached him for a Telugu folk-style song to reach cadres and supporters in other parts of Telangana and outside the Old City.“I faced trolling and criticism from some people and leaders when I sang for AIMIM. But I am a singer. I will lend my voice to any party if they ask me,” he says.Voice booms beyond politicsDespite his popularity in political circles, Narsi Reddy says his heart lies elsewhere. “Though I have lent my voice to hundreds of songs for politicians, my preference is to compose and sing songs on the issues of downtrodden people and devotional songs,” he said.He has sung on social issues, including anti-drug awareness. One of his songs, “Vaddura Thammi Nuvvu Ganjai Joliki” — meaning “Don’t, brother, stay away from ganja” — was aimed at warning youth against drug abuse.He has also sung commemorative songs on freedom fighters and social icons such as Dr BR Ambedkar, Sarvai Papanna and Chakali Ilamma. These songs were released on special occasions and anniversaries.Devotional hitsNarsi Reddy’s devotional songs have also found a massive audience online. His song on Lord Shiva song for Shivaratri, “Jangamo N Lingama, Koppulo Gangama-Pakkana Parvathi”, crossed 100 million views on YouTube and became one of his biggest hits.He has also composed and sung songs on Lord Hanuman, Sammakka-Saralamma, Komuravelli Mallanna and Ayyappa, many of which received multi-million views.Silver screen opportunitiesHis folk voice has also carried him into cinema. Nalgonda Gaddar has sung in about a dozen films, with some of his tracks becoming popular.His recent songs include “Rasgumadi” from Korean Kanakaraju and “Dhoom Dhaam Dosthaan” from Dasara. He has also sung for films such as Premalo Padithe, Inkennalu, Nivasi and Bheemadevrapalli Branch.Political ambitionsAsked whether he has political ambitions, given his long association with Congress leaders and CM Revanth Reddy, Narsi Reddy points to the example of folk singer and lyricist Goreti Venkanna, who was given an opportunity by the BRS as an MLC and is set to retire soon.He hopes the Congress will recognise his services — not only to the party, but also to society at large.
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