Oggu Katha Exponent Chukka Sattaiah Passes Away 

Hyderabad: Telangana's folk art Oggu Katha exponent and National Sahitya Akademy award winner Chukka Sattaiah died on Thursday.

Sattaiah(82) was suffering from some old age related health issue for some time now and finally breathed his last on Thursday at his home.

Born of an Oggu Katha artistes family in Manikyapuram of Lingala Ghanapur mandal in Janagam district on March 29, 1935, Sattaiah popularized the folklore not only in the Telugu states and the country but also throughout world. He received Central Sangita Nataka Akademy award from the then President Dr. Abdul Kalam in 2004 and a doctorate from Kakatiya University.

In recognition to his service to the folklore of over six decades, Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao has decided to give Rs10,000 per month pension to Chukka Sattaiah some time back. The Chief Minister said he decided to give monthly pension to Sattaiah, who popularized Oggu Katha genre worldwide, to lead a comfortable life.

Chief Minister KCR and several leaders expressed condolences on the death of Chukka Sattaiah.