Coup On Arts – 15 [Indian Folk Arts]

Not only folk stories, folk arts also, have maturity in thinking’s and in ideas. So many folk arts had ruined because of non-patronize. Leather idols show, Bagavathula Ata, Pagati Veshaalu, Dappu Dances, Padya Nataka i.e. Dramas, Katha Kalakshepam, Ashtavadhanam, Sathavadhanam, Kavya ganam, Goshti, sode etc etc. There was a genetic and traditional relationship in between the Dappu sound i.e. Drum beat and Indian blood. In the loud decibels of Taj, Baj, Disco etc etc musics, folk music has anchor up the Indian heart. Recent Telugu movie song

“ రబ్బరు గాజులు ..........
రిబ్బను, పువ్వులు .........
..........................
నువ్వంటే పడిపడి చస్తానే “

That means, I’ll give rubber bangles to you

I’ll bring ribbon flowers for you

……………………………………

I love you like anything.

I’ll die for you.

Such folk songs, such drum beats, fill response in the hearts of Indians from 2 years kid to 80 years old people. That is genetic. No disco, no jaj, no pop, no Indi-pop etc etc has that much echo in the Indian heart.

In Veyi Padagalu, i.e. Thousand snake’s hoofs written by Sri Viswa Nadha Satyanarayana in Telugu have detail description of ancient folk arts. At the time of Sankranthi festival, the artists of Gangireddu i.e. oxen play will come to villages to show their art. I read one incident regarding this Gangi reddu. I wish to narrate it to you. I forgotten the author’s name and I’m sorry for it. According to the author…

One day, the author was brushing his teeth with a twig of Neem by sitting on the outer bench beside the compound wall of his house in the morning. There came a team of artists of Gangi Reddu. But two artists were bent by covering white cloth, dancing like an ox with suitable get up. The music was with full beat of drums and shahanaw. They were dancing according to the rhythm of music with the movement of ox. The author was watching it. He noticed the talent of artists. The artists also watched the keen observation and appreciation of the author in his eyes. The dance and music was in high pitch. The author wanted to test the involvement of artists. He took a small mud stone and thrown it to waist of ox i.e. actor who were dancing like ox. When it touched their waist, just like an ox, the artist had shrugged his waist.

All the audience shouted with joy. It was not as per script, as per pre-planned. It was just spontaneousness. It was the same frequency of viewer of art and artists. Are we enjoying such lively-ness, concentration and commitment in arts? Are we enjoying such resonance [same frequency] among art exhibitor and art receiving persons, whatever the art may be, music, dance or drama?

I narrate you another incident which I experienced in my childhood. Once there came Gangi reddu artists to my grandfather’s place i.e. Sangadi Gunta in Guntur. They performed a show of Sita Rama Parinayam of Ramayanam. That means it was the marriage episode of Sita with Sri Rama. In that team, some artists were making music with instruments like dappu i.e. drum and Sehanai etc. The oxen and cows had decorated with colorful clothes, beeds, garlands, bells and belts. Some artists were singing the songs, saying dialogues and narrating the story. One ox named as Raja Dasaratha, one as Sri Rama and a white cow named Sita. The artists were singing, the oxen and cow were dancing. In the drama, the artists said, “Look! Ramayya is angry with Sitamma. He is displeasure with Janaka Raja.”

The ox, Sri Rama was dancing with high speed. The tinklets and small bells in its neck and on four legs were giving rhythmic sweet sounds, which were like background music to the song of artists. The ox, Janaka was taking rounds around Sri Rama and was acting to convince him by licking its dewlap. When Janaka ox came this side, the Rama ox was turning to other side pretending angry. Both were putting steps rhythmic to the music beat. Both the oxen had shown different steps, exposing displeasure and pleasing. Janaka & Rama oxen acted for the song as

Janaka: “Oh! Ramayya! I will give silk Dhotis, come bridegroom.
[ఓ రామ పట్టుపంచెనిస్తాను రావయ్యా ఓ పెళ్ళికొడకా!]

Rama: Oh! Mamayya! I don’t need silk Dhotis. I won’t come.
[ఓ మామయ్య! పట్టుపంచెలొద్దు నాకు రానయ్యా ఓ మామయ్య!]

Janaka: Oh! Ramayya! I’ll give crop. Come bride groom.
[పొలం పంటనిస్తాను రావయ్యా పెళ్ళికొడకా!]

Rama: Oh! Mamayya! I don’t need crops! I won’t come.
[పొలం పంటలొద్దు నాకు రానయ్యా ఓ మామయ్య!]

Janaka: Oh! Ramayya! I’ll give my daughter a good girl.
[మాపిల్లనిస్తాను, మంచిపిల్లనిస్తాను రావయ్యా పెళ్ళికొడకా!]

Rama: Oh! Mammayya! I’ll come. I’ll come.
[అట్లయితే వస్తానయ్యా మామయ్య! వస్తానయ్యా మామయ్య!]

At the end of song, both had shown same steps of dancing. After that the singers said, “Now Sitamma had displeasure to Ramayya. Look! She is going. Dasaratha Raja! Go to Sitamma. Do pleasing her. Pet her.”