One bullet lodged in his spine, paralyzing him from the waist down. For the rest of his life, Gaddar would use a wheelchair. But he never stopped singing. He said, "They shot my legs, but my voice is still alive."
In almost all contexts, "Gaddar" is a story of a man who chose a side—either the side of the powerful (and became a traitor to the people) or the side of the poor (and was branded a traitor by the state). gaddar
From his wheelchair, he continued to perform, often being carried onto stage by his followers. His concerts became acts of defiance. In the 2000s, the movement for a separate state of Telangana (carved out of Andhra Pradesh) gained force. Gaddar became its unofficial poet laureate. He wrote the iconic song "Podustunna Poddu Meeda" (On the Rising Sun), which became the battle cry of the Telangana movement. It was sung by millions during protests. One bullet lodged in his spine, paralyzing him
When Telangana was finally formed as India's 29th state in 2014, Gaddar was the hero of the hour. Yet, he remained critical of the new government, saying that the real revolution—for the rights of the poorest—was not yet complete. Gaddar died on August 6, 2023, at the age of 74. His funeral was a state event. Hundreds of thousands of people—farmers, students, politicians, and artists—lined the streets to bid him farewell. He said, "They shot my legs, but my voice is still alive