Sahitya Akademi Award for Nandini Sidda Reddy

“Nageti Salallo Na Telangana” resonated widely during the movement for statehood, capturing the emotional and cultural essence of the region. Through poetry, essays and public engagements, he consistently highlighted Telangana’s language, heritage and social concerns

Telugu poet Nandini Sidda Reddy has been selected for the 2025 Sahitya Akademi Award in the Telugu category for his poetry collection Animesha. The national literary body announced the annual awards on Monday, recognising writers across 24 Indian languages and highlighting the diversity of Indian literature.

Born in Bandaram village of Kondapaka mandal in the erstwhile Medak district, Reddy grew up immersed in the dialect, folklore and everyday cultural expressions of Telangana. These early influences later became central to his poetry and essays, which frequently reflect the region’s social realities, cultural identity and aspirations.

Reddy completed his Master’s degree at Osmania University and later pursued MPhil and PhD research in modern Telugu poetry. He went on to work as a Telugu lecturer at Siddipet Government Degree College, where he taught literature for several years before retiring in 2012.

Over time, his literary work became closely associated with the cultural expression of the Telangana movement. His well-known composition “Nageti Salallo Na Telangana” resonated widely during the movement for statehood, capturing the emotional and cultural essence of the region. Through poetry, essays and public engagements, he consistently highlighted Telangana’s language, heritage and social concerns.

After the formation of Telangana in 2014, he was appointed the first chairman of the Telangana Sahitya Akademi. In that role, he focused on promoting Telugu literature, encouraging emerging writers and supporting the use of the Telangana dialect in literary works.

Senior leaders congratulated Reddy on receiving the national honour. K. T. Rama Rao said the award was a matter of pride for Telangana and praised the poet for spreading the spirit and cultural fragrance of the state through his writings.

Former minister T. Harish Rao also extended his wishes, describing Reddy as a literary voice who powerfully expressed Telangana’s identity and saying the award was a deserving recognition of his contribution to literature.