BENGALURU: For Kabir, death is never far away. Strike a bargain with every living moment, say the saint-poet’s verses. This is something folk singer Mooralala follows.
At the most unexpected of moments, this powerful voice from the Rann of Kutch bursts into song, says writer Vipul Rikhi of the Kabir Project.
Initiated by filmmaker Shabnam Virmani in 2003, the project brings together people experiences of the 15th century poet’s works. Part of the project also involves creating an online archive, Ajab Shahar.
“The very thought of him brings a smile on your face,” he promises the audience at Bhoomija’s Saturday evening of Kabir music, Shabad Dhun Laagi — Struck by the Word. “You’ll see why.”
Minutes later, after Mooralala Marwada and his troupe had settled down on the stage, he surprised the gathering at JP Nagar’s MLR Convention Centre with a resonant ‘Ho!’ as he twanged his tamboora.
This stringed instrument, the bhajan singer of the Meghwal tradition says, is 130 years old. “Bhajan singing has been the family’s vocation for at least 11 generations,” he says.
Earlier nurtured by patrons, now many such artistes depend on ticketed programmes such as this for livelihood, says Rikhi.
Rajasthani singer Mahesha Ram, who led the troupe that had the audience swaying and dancing for an hour before his Gujarati counterpart took over, proudly says he has performed across Europe.
“Singers like Mooralalaji and Maheshaji are the spirit of the Kabir Project,” Rikhi says. “The music is simple and repetitive, so you can really soak in the verses.”
Virmani admits to having first heard Kabir’s poetry in the musical voices of Gujarat while she was touring the state in the 1990s.
“We have no bhajan in our repertoire we are not proud of,” says Manganiyar artiste Anwar Khan who has accompanied Mahesha for about 17 years.
“When I’m in Kutch, where there are a lot of Muslims, I sing Sufi poet Shah Abdul; in other parts of Gujarat, I sing Kabir; in Madhya Pradesh, I sing Meera,” says Mooralala.