Qutb Shahi Sultans extended their patronage to Telugu, the local language of the people. They also gave encouragement to the learned men and scholars to settle in their dominions by bestowing on them stipends and pensions. Merchants and soldiers were also received with open arms.

This interaction of cultures and intimate relationship led to the birth of what is known as Dakhni Urdu. Among the earliest poets in this language, we may mention the names of Mulla Khiyalli, Firoz, Wajhi and Ibn-i-Nishati. Muhammad-Quli Qutb Shah was himself a poet of renown. He composed masnavis, ghazals, quatrains, odes, etc.

The Sultan had nominated Ghawasi as Malik-us-Shuara. His works include Saif-ul- Mulk, Tutinama, Maina-Satwantieli. Some of the poets of the later period are Shah Raju, Ghulam Ali, Sewak, Abul Hasan and others. Ghulam Ali is famous for his translation of Padmavat into Dakhni Urdu. Sewak’s janganama can be compared to Ghulam Ali Khan Latif’s Zafarnama.