Thread by @cbkwgl

Let me tell you a small story, the story behind the iconic song Bandenaka Bandi Katti, by Yadagiri, who became famous as Bandi Yadagiri. The version sung by Gaddar in Maa Bhoomi is a slightly distorted version of the original -
#HyderabadLiberationDay

The original one contained reference to Reddys in place of Nizam Sarkar. No, Yadagiri wasn't targetting the Reddys. His choice of abuse was Visnur Deshmukh Rapaka Ramchandra Reddy, the one famous for Bairanpalli massacre.

He is considered one of the most brutal and rapacious of Nizam's men and ran a reign of terror from Visnur while his mother made Kadivendi Gadi her base. The word Gadi is used for the forts of these Zamindars and they usually maintained a private army to run their show.

It's not exactly a fort, a palatial bungalow with high and thick compound walls with restricted entry - one main gate and a back door generally. This guy was the main reason why Communism took shape in Warangal belt. Protests escalated,

he brought in the Razakars and even the army in his support to manage the situation but Indian independence and Operation Polo messed up everything. In fact, his story tells the reason why Patel went for Police Action and not negotiated settlement -

when the Crown Prince of Hyderabad came to Visnur to take stock of the issues, people complained to him over the Deshmukh, fully believing the Nizam didn't know what's happening and these Deshmukhs are the culprits - Patel was not sure if a referendum is put,

people will vote for merger with India - that's the sort of image Nizam had. His forts were raided, his mother was captured, he escaped alive to Hyderabad but his eldest son, his point man for all atrocities didn't survive. He was chased all the way from Palakurti to Jangaon by

the villagers and was killed when he was about to enter the train to Hyderabad. Because once he is in that train, he is saved. It is said that Ramchandra Reddy came to the village after independence under a false identity and not much is known of him.

Now, coming to the song. What does it mean?
Bandenaka Bandi Katti, Padaharu Bandlu Katti, ae Bandla Potav Koduko
Meaning, in a convoy of 16 vehicles, which one will you use?
This is a direct reference to the Visnur Deshmukh.

He had one of the first cars in all Hyderabad and the first car in Warangal Subah. He used to go to Hyderabad always in his car and he used to park his car somewhere near Suryapet. A convoy of bullock carts is what he used from Suryapet to Visnur. It's like there's a convoy

coming on the roads, people were shooed away from it's path and the convoy represented the power of the Deshmukh and is associated with his brutalities. And whatever his reasons, Gaddar modified this song and made it a national issue while it's the story of one Zamindari.