BENGALURU: Folk singer Sukri Bomma Gowda, who was honoured by the Karnataka government in 1988 and by the central government with the Padmashree this year, was discovered by a neighbourhood barber. “He heard me singing and talked about me to a few academicians and educationists in various institutions,” she tells City Express.
Sukri, known as the Folk Nightingale of Karnataka, was speaking at a function announcing Idyani 2017. This is a year-long project aimed at promoting folk music and passing it on to the next generation, promoted by Hamsalekha Music Trust. Playback singer, actor and music director SP Balasubramanyam was present at the event.
A renowned Kannada film composer, Hamsalekha, who is behind this programme, says, “It is a big project that will be launched on World Folk Day on August 21 this year by the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Through the 12 months, we will present experiments done by the trust to the nation. It will have presentations in dance, music, theatre and visual performing arts, and will screen a regular feature film too. There will be a series of events, exhibitions and performances at every district.”
Global fest after a week
After 12 months, from August 21, 2018, the trust will organise an ‘Iydani Week’ named Jagad Janapada Jaatre (World Folk Festival) where 45 performers from 30 states and 15 representatives from different parts of the world will perform. Hamsalekha says, “The objective of the fest is to ward off threats of nuclear war through art... The concept is Clear Nuclear.”
Folk singer Pooja Shankar, from the band Antarman, says that such fests are essential. “It gives artistes more opportunities to present their talent,” she says. “There are many musicians across the country, in every nook and corner of the villages, and many die without any recognition. The government has schemes, but they should do more to help artists survive. Fellow musicians should also help each other out,” she says.
Shankar places the responsibility on the audience as well. “Folk music has been around since the beginning of human existence,” she says. “It is about life and philosophy, and it has evolved with generations, introducing new beats as well. All kinds of music we know originated from folk music.”
Singer and director Balasubramanyam said on May 27 event, “Nature is the inspiration behind traditional folk music.” He said that Idyani will promote new ventures in the folk music industry worldwide.
Stumbled into this genre
Sukri says that she did not have formal training, but started singing at a young age, listening to her mother and sister. “I used to imitate their songs on the Tulasi goddess, slowly it became my interest as well,” she says. “I got an offer from Bengaluru Aakashwani to record songs, and I started travelling to different states after I turned 20.”
This is when she started being honoured with many awards. Soon, her songs were recorded by an academy and released on CDs and recorded in a book. Sukri promotes eduction of girls through her songs. She was married to a 36-year- old man when she was just 12. Two years later, her husband passed away and she started her career in music. “My inspiration is myself,” she says. “I don’t wish to be anyone else. If you have to do it, only you can do it.”