Oggu Katha - Oral Storytelling Theatrical Performance of Telangana
Oggu Katha is a traditional folklore singing praising and narrating the stories of the Hindu God Mallana. Mallanna Katha which is performed by the Oggu Pujarulu (minstrels) to their patron community, the seven Kurumas / Gollas. Mallanna Katha is their caste myth, which narrates the exploits of Mallanna their caste hero. As the Mallanna Katha is narrated using a particular percussion instrument called as "Oggu" by "Oggu Pujarulu" it is popularly termed as Oggu Katha. In other words, Oggu Katha is the style of narration, which belongs to a distinct genre with an admixture of song-speech-dance-sequence performed by 5 to 7 performers having a lead narrator within them. They also narrate stories on Beerappa, Yellamma, Pedaraasi Peddamma Katha. It is one of the well-known folk art forms of the Telangana region. It originated among the Yadav & Kuruma Golla community, who devoted themselves to the singing of ballads in praise of Lord Siva. Oggu