AI drives Telugu spiritual talks to national spotlight

Chaganti multilingual pravachanams go viral

metro india news  I hyderabad

In an era where artificial intelligence is bridging cultural and linguistic divides, the timeless spiritual discourses of renowned Telugu orator Brahmasri Chaganti Koteswara Rao have exploded in popularity across social media platforms.

Thanks to innovative dubbing technology from Indian AI startup Sarvam AI, Rao's pravachanams—profound expositions on Hindu epics and philosophy—have been seamlessly translated and voiced in Kannada, Tamil, and Hindi, retaining the speaker's original tone and timbre. This breakthrough has not only democratized access to his teachings but also sparked a viral phenomenon, with millions of views and shares amplifying Sanatana Dharma's reach beyond Telugu-speaking regions.

Chaganti Koteswara Rao, born on July 14, 1959, in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, is a celebrated scholar of Sanatana Dharma, often hailed as "Pravachana Chakravarti" (Emperor of Discourses) for his eloquent and insightful interpretations of ancient texts. His pravachanams, delivered in Telugu, cover epics like the Ramayanam, Mahabharatam, Bhagavatam, and Bhagavad Gita, drawing from a deep well of Vedic knowledge.

For decades, these discourses have been available through YouTube channels, Spotify podcasts, and dedicated websites like srichaganti.org, where enthusiasts can access hours of audio and video content. However, language barriers limited their appeal primarily to audiences in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and the Telugu diaspora.

Enter Sarvam AI, a Bengaluru-based company specializing in multilingual AI models tailored for Indian languages. Founded in 2023, Sarvam has focused on voice cloning and real-time translation technologies to make content accessible across India's diverse linguistic landscape. Their AI dubbing tool uses advanced neural networks to analyze a speaker's voice patterns, intonation, and rhythm, then overlays translations while preserving the original audio's authenticity. In early 2026, users began experimenting with Sarvam's platform to dub Rao's pravachanams, leading to a surge in viral clips on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube.

One pivotal moment came on February 20, 2026, when X user

@santhi_ps posted: "OMG. Chaganti Koteswara Rao ji's Pravachanams being dubbed by Sarvam AI. Bharath will know this great man and the wealth of Pravachanas in Telugu. Unparalleled!!" The post garnered over 2,100 likes and 27 replies within days, igniting discussions on cultural exchange. Soon after,

@Parabrahman47

shared dubbed versions of a pravachanam in Hindi, Kannada, and Tamil, noting the AI's impressive results despite minor issues with poetic meters in Telugu padyas (verses). The thread featured four video clips, amassing 540 likes and highlighting Sarvam's potential to "break language barriers."

The virality stems from the AI's ability to clone Rao's distinctive voice—calm, authoritative, and infused with spiritual gravitas—making the translations feel like extensions of his live sessions. For instance, a dubbed excerpt from his discourse on the Bhagavad Gita in Hindi has racked up thousands of views, with commenters praising how it captures the essence without losing emotional depth. In Tamil and Kannada versions, subtle nuances of devotion are retained, appealing to South Indian audiences who previously relied on subtitles or secondary interpretations.

Experts attribute this surge to India's growing AI adoption in cultural preservation. "AI dubbing isn't just translation; it's cultural amplification," says Dr. Vivek Natarajan, co-founder of Sarvam AI, in a recent interview. 

"By dubbing spiritual content like Chaganti garu's pravachanams, we're enabling intergenerational and interregional dialogue. It's about making wisdom universal." Sarvam's models, trained on vast datasets of Indian voices and dialects, handle complexities like Sanskrit slokas embedded in Telugu discourses, though challenges remain with rhythmic poetry, as noted by users.

The impact is evident in social media metrics. Hashtags like #ChagantiAI, #SarvamDubbing, and #PravachanamViral have trended, with clips shared by influencers and spiritual groups. On YouTube, channels like "Sri Chaganti Koteswara rao gari Pravachanamulu" have seen subscriber spikes, while unofficial fan pages on Instagram, such as @pravachana_chakravarthy, post AI-enhanced content daily. In North India, Hindi dubs have introduced Rao's teachings to Hindi heartland states, where similar orators like Premanand Maharaj dominate. One X user suggested reciprocal translations: "Great job

@SarvamAI

Y'all translate Chaganti/Garikipati gari pravachanalu to Hindi and North people translate Premanand maharaj ji speeches to Telugu... Together let's break language barriers."

This phenomenon aligns with broader trends in AI-driven content localization. As seen in a 2023 post about Prime Minister Modi's speech at Kashi Tamil Sangamam being instantly translated via AI, technology is erasing linguistic silos. For spiritual content, this means greater inclusivity, allowing non-Telugu speakers to engage with Rao's profound insights on dharma, karma, and devotion without intermediaries.

However, not all reactions are unreservedly positive. Some purists argue that AI dubbing risks diluting cultural authenticity, especially with padyas where meter and rhyme are sacred. "The AI disrupts the chandas," complained one user in the viral thread. Ethical concerns also arise: Rao's official channels have not endorsed these dubs, raising questions about consent and intellectual property in the AI age. Sarvam AI emphasizes that their tool is user-driven and encourages respectful use.

Despite these debates, the virality underscores AI's role in revitalizing traditional knowledge. Rao's discourses, once confined to regional festivals and TV broadcasts, now resonate nationally. As one fan commented on a dubbed video: "This is a game-changer for Sanatana Dharma. Wisdom knows no language."

With Sarvam AI planning expansions to more languages like Malayalam and Bengali, the future looks bright for cross-cultural spiritual exchange. Chaganti Koteswara Rao's voice, amplified by silicon, is proving that ancient wisdom can thrive in the digital age, one viral post at a time.