Dasari Kondappa

Dasari Kondappa plays the burra veena, a folk string instrument of Telangana made from bamboo, a gourd shell and metal. He is said to be one of the last remaining players of the instrument in the state ^[2]. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2024 in the field of art, from Telangana ^[1].

A travelling musician

Kondappa was born on 1 January 1960 and comes from Damaragidda mandal in Narayanpet district ^[2]. Like his forefathers, he has lived a wandering life, earning his living by playing the burra veena, singing and telling stories ^[2].

He learned the stories of the Ramayana and Mahabharata from his brother, who was blind ^[2]. His repertoire takes in the Puranas and epics, family life and present-day social issues, and he sings moral and philosophical songs known as tatvalu in Telugu and Kannada ^[2].

Keeping the art alive

Burra veena players traditionally performed only within their own community, which his citation suggests is one reason few outsiders ever came to learn the art ^[2]. Kondappa has worked to reach wider audiences and has kept the instrument and its songs alive for more than 50 years ^[2].