Telusa: Translating Telugu Heritage into Modern Design

In Telugu, Telusa means “do you know?” — not quite a statement, not quite an answer, but something in between. And it was with this word that the story of a space began to unfold. Unlike most restaurants that grow from the roots of their cuisine, Telusa began not in the kitchen, but in language and curiosity. The name became the first brick, the first pigment, the first breath of the 5000 sq. ft. restaurant tucked into the first floor of a commercial building in Hyderabad. It wasn’t simply a place to dine in. It was to be a living, breathing tapestry of Telugu culture — past, present, and imagined, crafted by the hands and hearts of Fellow Yellow. 

• Project Name: Telusa
• Location: Hyderabad
• Area: 5000 sqft
• Typology: Restaurant
• Design Studio: Fellow Yellow
• Principal Designer: Geethu Gangadharan & Sreyas Vidhu
• Photography: Syam Sreesylam & Jubin Johnson

Against the dark flooring and rich wood of the entryway, warm light pools strategically, drawing the eye to intricate details with the same focused intimacy as your phone switching to dark mode. You are greeted by figures adorned in Kalamkari, Ikat, and gold — deep in conversation, they embody the cultural threads that connect the regions of Andhra, Telangana, and Rayalaseema. Suspended above is a 7ft Nimmalakunta leather chandelier, created in collaboration with national award-winning Dr. Dalavai Kullayappa. Guided by the traditional light/shadow vocabulary of leather puppetry, it is a functional fixture that promises enlightenment of all kinds. 

Inspired by the Warangal Fort and its Kakatiya columns, a central pillar stands at the heart of this 5000 sq. ft. space. Rising from basalt tiles, it reminds visitors that they stand before a lineage built on stone. The path from entrance to pillar is meditative, following terracotta pots that line a lotus-inspired ceiling — each concentric ring draws people inward, towards seating and conversation. Transitioning to a lighter colour palette and soft-wood craftsmanship, the walls are playfully lined with Kondapalli toys. The lanterns, reminiscent of simpler times, celebrate your homecoming. 

The bar presents a study in contrasts: a bright red Kalamkari-inspired chandelier anchors the island, where sleek silverware and martini glasses catch the light. A panoramic window looks out at the Hyderabad skyline, serving as the only reminder that Telusa lies in the middle of a bustling metropolis. 

The sheer scale of things continues into the Private Dining Room, where 15-foot-tall Cheriyal paintings command attention. Each of these thirty hand-drawn, custom-naturally dyed panels celebrates the Telugu way of life. Commissioned from national award-winning artist Shri Rakesh Varma, whose family has practised the art for generations, they present a to-be-looked-at-ness without objectification. 

The singularity of the stone pillar, the chandelier(s), and the painting wall, against the multiplicity of miniatures grouped around them, represent the many that characterise Telugu culture. Art, at Telusa, is a leitmotif. None of this is decoration, but spectacle in its truest sense. As you leave—perhaps hours later than intended, with your footsteps echoing the chronicles of Kakatiya-Kadapa-Kondapalli- Kalamkari—you go back to the lingering, essential question you began this journey with.