For long, rap music has been associated with the Western world, although artistes like Baba Sehgal, Honey Singh and Baadhshah brought it into mainstream Bollywood music. Interestingly, the country also has quite a steady independent rap scene going on. And of the many emerging independent Indian rap artistes is Hyderabadi Pranav Chaganty, who has made Telugu rap an ‘in’ thing.
For starters, the 27-year-old explains that there’s nothing uniquely western about rap! “If we go back to our mythological films, for instance in Sri Krishnarjuna Yuddhamu, the characters of Krishna and Arjuna converse using poetic compilations. I don’t think they are any different from the rap battles,” he explains, adding, “If you see works of poets like Vemulavada Bhimakavi, Palakuriki Somanathudu and Sri Sri, it’s all just like rap. People think that rap is just about ‘yo yo’ and throwing attitude, but it’s not.”
Hailing from a middle class family where “studies were a priority and a good job was a necessity”, Pranav eventually joined the Merchant Navy and sailed for a while before deciding to quit as he really “missed family and sangeetham”. “At that instance, it was a huge decision to make. But I am happy I did because the joy I get by linking words, making phrases and putting them together is unmatchable,” he reasons.
Pranav confesses that although he always loved music, he didn’t write earlier. “I wasn’t a poet to begin with. But I’ve been brought up as a socially responsible individual and injustice boils my blood. Writing became a venting mechanism. I might make fun songs like Pani Puri or the Sunrisers Hyderabad theme song, but Drunkard on the Road is really close to my heart,” he shares.
But why rap? “A direct conversation impacts like no other. Music may divert attention to the melody which isn’t what I want. When you combine both the ideas, you get rap!” he says.
What sets this local rapper apart is his command over Telugu and the use of witty lyrics. “I love Telugu very much because it’s a beautiful language. I really want to contribute to Telugu literature and this is my way of doing it,” says Pranav.
