Not Vote on Account but Account for Votes | Chidambaram Respond on Budget 2019

Payal Radhakrishna’s recent interview has sparked an important conversation about the love for language—especially Telugu. The actress, who comes from a Konkani background, shared her thoughts while promoting her latest film Papam Pratap, leaving many surprised with her candid observations.

In India, people usually take pride in their mother tongue—learning it well, speaking it confidently, and passing it on to future generations. However, Payal pointed out that this connection appears to be weakening among some Telugu speakers, particularly the younger generation.

Payal began her journey in Telugu cinema with the web series Taragathi Gadhi Daati and later appeared in films like Prasanna Vadanam and Chaurya Paatham. During this time, she made a conscious effort to learn Telugu, along with Kannada and Tamil. Over time, she developed a strong appreciation for the language, especially its film music.

She expressed a special fondness for Telugu songs from the 1990s, praising their meaningful and poetic lyrics. “I really love Telugu songs, especially from the 90s. They carry great depth and emotion,” she said. However, when she tried to understand the meanings behind some of those lyrics, she encountered an unexpected challenge.

“When I asked people here to explain the meanings, many couldn’t give clear answers,” she revealed. She also noted that even some people who grew up in the 90s admitted they didn’t fully understand certain Telugu words.

Her remarks highlight a broader concern—the gradual disconnect from a rich and expressive language. Telugu boasts a long literary and cultural heritage, but without active effort to learn and use it, future generations risk losing touch with its depth and beauty.