Nagaraj: I believe the derivation of Telugu cukka < Skt. śukra is a folk etymology, although, it is very popular among the Sanskrit pundits of the Telugu land. The word cukka in the meaning of "a small drop", "dot" and "star" is found across several Dravidian languages that it is difficult to assume that śukra became cukka and then spread into so many of these languages (See [DEDR 2646 ]).
Furthermore, beside vālucukka (వాలుచుక్క) for Śukra, Telugu has names for other stars containing cukka, such as vēgucukka (వేగుచుక్క North Star), ecakankaṭicukka (ఏచకంకటిచుక్క uttarāṣaḍa), kukkacukka (కుక్కచుక్క=punarvasu), kummarasārecukka (కుమ్మరసారెచుక్క viśākhā), it becomes clear the the word cukka was generic term for star, and not derived from Sanskrit śukra.
Suresh.