With the formation of Telangana now official, the average Hyderabadi will soon be hearing words from the endearing dialect from the region. And since, 2014 is also the election year, the need to keep yourself abreast of all deliberations is rather, imperative. That’s why this effort, to explain a lingo that’s been out of the mainstream for years now.
The KCR slang
The “emergence” of the ‘T’ lingo and accent was first spotted back in 2001 when Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief K. Chandrashekar Rao started using the slang to attract the masses and then take digs at rivals. The media simply couldn't ignore the veteran politician’s caustic remarks and soon, the comments and the lingo started finding mention on front pages. Now, the usage is so popular that even superstars are resorting to some ‘Telangana speak’.
Mahesh Babu’s ‘T’ slang-laden “punch dialogues” in the 2011 blockbuster Dookudu became a rage in the region. One of the actor’s dialogues from the movie read: “Kallu unnodu mundu maathrame chusthadu, dimaak unnodu duniya mottham chusthadu” (Those with eyes see only what’s in the front, but those minds see the entire world).
In the Andhra dialect this dialogue, would become, “Kallu unnavaadu mundu mathrame chustaadu, medadu unnavaadu prapancham mottham chusthaadu.” In the T dialect, unnavaadu is unnodu, chusthaadu is spoken as chustadu, medadu becomes dimaak and prapancham turns into duniya — though both dimaak and duniya come from Urdu.
But Mahesh’s dialogues soon inspired other Tollywood heroes like Nagarjuna and Jagapathi Babu to adopt the slang, which was earlier used by only comedians.
“The T dialect and language was being belittled within united AP. It was also, earlier, shown in poor light by cinema and TV. But we are happy to note that the dialect is now getting its due recognition,” says K. Kavitha, daughter of the TRS chief and founder of Telangana Jagruthi, a body working towards the restoration of Telangana language and culture. “People are now more confident in speaking the dialect and even the youth are not feeling ashamed anymore,” she added.
Even the ‘T dictionaries’ are seeing a rise in sales. Noted Telangana writer and poet Nalimela Bhaskar, who authored, Telangana Padakosham (dictionary) adds: “There is a good demand for books related to the Telangana dialect. And they are even in short supply. Two of my editions, with 6,000 words and 9,000 words respectively, were sold out very quickly. I am not planning to release a third edition,” Bhaskar said.
But for those without the access to a dictionary, there are obviously friends who are in the know. So, what’s stopping you? Go ahead and use the T slang.
