1678407626.jpg)
As an Indian who has been living in Texas for the past 22 years, I have not yet fully assimilated with my fellow Americans in terms of English speech.
Despite being an American citizen, I still struggle to find the right words and often feel like a foreigner when communicating, even with my children who were born and raised here.
While I am proficient in writing, speaking fluently in English remains a challenge for me, as it is for many of my Indian friends and acquaintances living in the US.
However, I was amazed by how effortlessly NTR, Ram Charan, and Rajamouli spoke in English during interviews with the American media. They handled press conferences and impromptu questions with typical American wit and the right choice of words.
I was particularly impressed when I saw NTR speaking to the media camera during the Golden Globe event some time ago.
Recently, I watched several interviews of Ram Charan and Rajamouli, who spoke in pristine British English with an occasional American accent. Even Keeravani, the eldest member of the team, was quick to grasp and answer questions in his flawless English.
In fact, many Indians who are proficient in English find it challenging to understand what their American counterparts are asking them in casual conversations, but Keeravani was able to communicate easily.
What shocked me the most was that these actors, director, and music director were not highly educated. Some of them did not even complete their graduation, yet they were able to communicate in such polished English.
They had no prior history of living in the US for extended periods, having mostly worked in Telugu cinema for decades. Their ability to adapt, learn, and emulate the language and culture is truly remarkable.
I realized that formal education is not the only factor that makes one proficient in a new language; the ability to grasp and reproduce it is also essential.
I am genuinely impressed by Rajamouli, NTR, Ram Charan, and Keeravani, and I salute them for representing India at the Oscars with such outstanding communication skills.
They are a source of pride for all Indians living in India and abroad and an inspiration to millions of Indians struggling to improve their English speaking skills.
Venkatesh B, Houston
