4-ORPHANS AND FOLK DANCES

4-ORPHANS AND FOLK DANCES

(India is a land of Culture with its varied languages and customs. Hidden behind this
canopy are hundreds of tales depicting heroism, love, affection, pathos and joys. 56% of population belong to rural India. They have created Folk Dances and Dramas to
entertain simple rural folks during festivals. Four orphans decided to peruse their career in this field)

Sevashrams in India are doing excellent services by providing shelters for orphans and old age homes throughout India. I had occasion to visit some of the ashrams. In one such occasion I met one Mr.Gopalaswami. He was about 80. I was attracted towards him because of his Bhagavathar hairstyle.

We sat near a Banyan tree and Mr. Swami recalled his youthdays. He did not recollect as to how he came to this Ashram but he grew along with it. When he was about 25- he
started to think that he has to contribute to the Ashram which has looked after him so well all these years. 3-like minded persons were also thinking like him.
They decided to form a troop and stage a musical folklore during the marriamman
festival. They prepared a script-helped by a folklore artist of the village. They selected atheme from Ramayana. They approached the Matron of the Ashram and appraised her of their desire.

The Matron agreed to help them.To stage folklore drama during festival and in rural surrounding you need lot of items. The dress should be gorgeous, you need swords, artificial jewelry, Headgear with embedded stones etc. This will cost considerable money. The next is the script and songs. The lyrics should be powerful and to the taste of the common people. Gopalaswamy can sing and also utter the dialogue crisply and forcefully. Among other 3- one can don Sita’s role. By nature shy and feminine face he was ideally suited.

So also another man for Rama’s role. Rural people will appreciate animals and their mischief. Hence Hanuman will invariably introduced. Gopalaswamy recalled how nervous they were. The D-day approached. They staged their first folk drama. Loud music accompanied with drums like Tharai, Thambattam and Thavil – Sampoorna Ramayanam play was staged. Throughout the night the drama went on and about 500 people watched the drama and at the end they got standingovations. Gift of Rs.100/- was presented to them- on those days 100 was very big amount.

When they handed that amount to the Matron, she accepted the same with happiness and
pleasure. Sweet was distributed to all the inmates. Gopalaswamy said from that day they staged more than 100 dramas. He recalled that his colleagues all passed away one by one and he alone remains.Gopalaswamy says that there is still life for Folk Arts and Folk Artists. All over India Folk Dramas are staged and mostly the themes are from our puranas.

N.S.Krishnan- the ester years comedian tried to introduce Social themes but after him it stopped.In those years you should have loud voice to reach to all gatherings since there was no mike at that time. For light Petromax light was only available. To travel from one place toanother bullock carts was the mode. During festival days they used to get from RS. 2000 - 3000.

But today everything has changed. Mike is available, colorful light to enhance the visual appearance, play back singing all make easy to stage dramas. But the support from people is declining lamented Gopalasawamy.


I have seen Peacock dances, horse dances etc by Folk Artists which are very interesting to watch. Puppet shows are also popular in villages. The themes for all the folk arts are invariably mythological. Street Shows (Theru Kuuthu) are very popular in both villages and small cities. After the introduction of TV- these arts are declining. For people who want relaxation and free air – these dramas can fill the gap. Will our educated youths work for renaissance of these arts?

Analysis:

Street Dances and Village Shows are the cultural heritage of India. But this unique Art is declining. With some modifications and renovation these arts can be revived. There is plenty of scope for educated youths to enter in this field. Using computerized graphics we can make these shows attractive and can draw Foreigners.


· India lives in villages.
· These shows belong to Villagers.
· New ideas and innovations can stop the declining of these arts.

R.Jagannathan.