Turning the rhythm of his mom tongue into rap, Pranav Chaganty, higher often called ‘Abhinavakavi,’ is taking Telugu from the pages of poetry books to the beats of hip-hop, remodeling classical verses into rap flows, indie tracks and viral Instagram reels. He’s proving that Telugu isn’t only a language — it’s rhythm and music, and it’s alive. “Telugu has all of the qualities a language wants for rap: rhythm, sweetness and which means,” he says. His newest launch, Rage of Kaantha indicators that that is greater than music — it’s a motion.
Long earlier than Pranav grew to become a celebrated rapper and lyricist, he aspired to be a movie composer, rising up immersed within the musical world. “I used to hearken to every kind of music, it was my basis. Telugu persons are fortunate. We hearken to Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam… there’s no actual language barrier,” he says. Inspired by A.R. Rahman’s music in his college days, he would spend hours analysing background scores from movies like Roja and Bombay, imagining melodies in his head and recording over 2,000 brief clips on an outdated telephone.
Coming from a lower-middle-class household, Pranav joined the Merchant Navy as {an electrical} engineer after finishing his engineering. Life at sea, nonetheless, was removed from straightforward for somebody as family-oriented and delicate as him. “Music was my solely companion,” he says. “Out there, you’ll be able to’t hearken to new music, you’re minimize off from household. I realised I used to be drifting. That’s when the ocean gave me path. I knew I needed to return and do music full-time.”
After finishing a music manufacturing course in Chennai and instructing college students keyboard and guitar in Bangalore, the sailor-turned-rapper returned to Hyderabad to give attention to his music profession. Around 2012, when the Nirbhaya incident shook the nation, Pranav discovered himself deeply affected. “I couldn’t perceive that sort of cruelty,” he says. “I simply poured the whole lot I felt into phrases. It wasn’t poetry at first, however after I wrote, I felt aid. That’s after I realised the ability of phrases.” His early monitor Aavedhana, about acid assault survivors, stays considered one of his most private works. “I by no means deliberate to sing, however as I stored writing what I felt, I ultimately found rap, and thru it, the fantastic thing about the Telugu language.”
While Pranav has established himself as a lyricist, rapper, and indie musician—additionally contributing to movies—his bigger mission is to make Telugu accessible, fashionable, and culturally related. His viral Instagram reels reinterpret classics like Sri Sri’s Mahaprasthanam, connecting historical Telugu rhythm to modern rap. “Sri Sri’s work is actually a traditional rap album. My notion of Vachana Kavithwam — free verse — is rap in our language,” he explains. His content material has sparked renewed curiosity in Telugu amongst youthful audiences. “People are rediscovering Telugu by my reels. That’s what retains me going.”
Earlier, Telugu was usually seen as advanced – reserved for students and intellectuals. Pranav needed to alter that, to make it welcoming and relatable. Through reinterpreting literary classics, mixing fashionable themes, and infusing rhythm into poetry, he’s bringing Telugu hip-hop to a wider viewers throughout India and past.
Looking forward, he goals of constructing a full-fledged Telugu cultural motion, full with music, merchandise, training, and artist mentorship. “Telugu isn’t just a language to me anymore; it’s a lifestyle,” he says. “Hip-hop is the bridge — it connects individuals, opens minds, and divulges the rhythm of our phrases. I’ve a number of plans round this concept, and a few thrilling collaborations within the works that I’ll share quickly.”
