THRISSUR: It is believed since ancient times that percussion instruments, Nadaswaram and thavil, a traditional percussion orchestra being performed during festival processions and auspicious rituals in temples across the state, was created to rouse dozing giant Kumbakarna in Ramayana from slumber, as nadaswaram was considered one of the world’s loudest non-brass acoustic instruments. But if current trends in this traditional art field are any indication, it seems that even God can’t save the endangered art form from imminent death.
The ancient art form which has been struggling hard for existence owing to lack of patronage, and is driving many young inheritors of the legacy to seek other professions, received another setback with the introduction of Nashik dhol, a traditional percussion band of the people in Nashik, which is very popular in Maharashtra and parts of North India, in the state. The traditional booming beats of the Nashik dhol in sync with the clanging of cymbals, now resounds in the alleys of Kerala, pushing the already battered nadaswaram artists, who have been striving hard for the revival of the traditional art form, to the edge.
According to Kottapadi Surendran, a noted artist in this field, the traditional art form has already taken a back seat with the
mushrooming of ‘shinkari melam’ and band melams in festival processions in recent times, handing out a raw deal to nadaswaram and thavil players in the state, where historically no ceremony or festival
is incomplete without the auspicious start of nadaswaram and thavil, which is therefore often referred to as mangala vadyam.
There are hardly any ardent followers for this art from and there are barely 400 active artists in this field now and the younger generation is not evincing much interest to take up this art form. “As artists, we are not against the introduction of any new musical instruments here, but at the same time we should not neglect our traditional musical instruments as they are part of our culture,” says Dharma Chandran, secretary of Kerala Nadaswara-Thavil Vadya Kala Sangadana.
Septuagenarian Thiruvizha Jayasankar, a Nadaswaram exponent, told Express that whether new instruments take the seat of the ancient instruments or not, the future of this dwindling art form looks any other than bleak. Whether it is the new form of orchestra or traditional or any another new form, there needs to be continuous improvisation and innovation to reach the classes and masses alike. Sadly no one in this field is ready to do the needful to nurture this ancient art form, then how can it survive the test of time? he rues.
“Following a dearth of artists, the Kshethra Kalapeedam, TDB’s training centre in percussion instruments, has included the nadaswaram and thavil in its syllabus and I have been visiting there as a judge for the last eight years in a row.
“And sadly I couldn’t spot a single talented artist and everyone undergoes training with the sole objective of earning a job in temples under various Devaswom boards,” he said, adding in such scenario it is very difficult for this classical art from to withstand the test of time, unless there is major innovation and improvisation.
