SHIVAMOGGA: Gajamukhane Ganapathiye and Namo Venkatesha, Namo Tirumalesha are the popular Kannada songs that open orchestra performances at Bhadravathi.
Despite the advent of satellite television and the Internet, people in the industrial town still like live music.
Bhadravathi, 23 km from Shivamogga, prides itself on its 38 singing troupes. The town is known for major industries, Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Industries, set up in 1962, and Mysore Paper Mills, established in 1937 by the Mysuru king Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar.
Cinema and theatre were passions in the bustling town. Some workers joined hands with artistes and started performing film songs and Kannada bhavageetes. A steady audience evolved over the years.
“The town had 6,000 to 8,000 labourers working in the two factories. Some of them were active in theatre, but a good number gravitated to singing. That could be the reason for the high number of troupes even today,” says Mohan Kumar, a music lover and resident of Bhadravathi.
The 38 troupes perform not just in Bhadravathi but across the state. Percussion artists from here, especially, are in demand even in other parts of the state. Some, however, who are in the middle of their careers, or run their own businesses, are hesitant to venture out.
“For the Ganesha festival, Rajyotsava and even jatras, people seek out live music. We get invitations for weddings, Ramzan and Christmas,” said Krishna of Sri Padmagiri Melody Orchestra.
“For any festive occasion in Bhadravathi, people call an orchestra. Tarikere and other nearby towns also share the passion,” a musician said.
Old film songs are popular, said Bhadravathi Vasu, a fulltime artiste who was earlier an assistant sub-inspector.
Competition is high and artistes and troupes try to do better all the time, says Loknath of Loknath Brothers Orchestra.
Many well-known artistes such as Arun Sagar and Nandita grew as part of this troupe. Loknath is instrumental in getting many to learn the rhythm pad, keyboard and tabla.
There are singers who can replicate greats such as P B Srinivas, Ghantasala, S P Balasubramanyam, Mohd Rafi, Kishore Kumar and the recent popular singers.
People prefer old songs to new. Besides Kannada, the troupes sing Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu as well.
The number of acoustic instrumentalists has come down with the advent of the rhythm pad and keyboard. Mimicry and comedy are being replaced by dance, sometimes raunchy.
“People demand female artistes when the singers take a break,” said a singer, unhappy about the development. “The dancers charge `5,000 for four songs.”
Manu, a musician, says the demand for dance is an insult to singers.
“The government should put an end to this Nanga Naach trend and protect artistes and their troupes,” said Pushpa Harish, a singer.
The orchestras invariably end their shows with ‘Kuladalli keelyaavudo, huchappa, matadalli melyaavudo,’ a folksy number expressing the folly of caste divisions.
