The identity of Karnataka lies in its world-famous Mysore Mallige, sandalwood, rich flora and fauna and, of course, its rich cultural heritage. A variety of folk arts like Yakshagana, Doddata, Sannata, Gigipada and Gombeyata are still very popular in some parts of the State.
The origin of folk arts dates back to thousands of years as folk arts were the only sources of entertainment for people a few decades ago, much before the advent of radio and television. Sadly, these traditional art forms are now trying hard for survival due to a change in people’s lifestyle and taste.
Unfortunately, these art forms too stuck to their original format and never adapted themselves to present day requirements. Though they are already non-existent in big metros and cities, they have their presence in rural areas, thanks to the patronage of villagers.
There is very limited scope for artists involved in these traditional art forms to exhibit their talent, except during State-sponsored festivals like Dasara. Recently, the State Government-sponsored Janapada Jathre in Bangalore too provided an opportunity for artists to exhibit their talent.
Mythology
Folk arts mainly concentrate on subjects pertaining to Hindu mythology and the concept of Doddata or Sannata is no different. Artists select episodes from either Mahabharata or Ramayana and enact them in colourful costumes. These performances run through the night.
Folk artists enjoyed a good social status in the earlier days when they used to get royal treatment in villages. In fact, people would compete among themselves to play host to folk art troupes.
However, these things are now a part of history, forcing many traditional artists to bid adieu to their respective art forms and switch over to other activities to earn their livelihood.
A majority of artists still live in poverty as their art doesn’t earn them much. Lack of recognition also affects them to a great extent, making their life miserable, while pension is still a mirage for many of them.
Mr Ramu Mulagi, a doctorate in folklore, laments that these traditional arts are fighting for survival due to lack of people’s support. Perhaps no other State in India has such a good collection of traditional folk arts as Karnataka, but sadly, most of them have vanished over time.
He opined that people like Late Shivaram Karanth took personal interest in the promotion of Yakshagana in coastal areas, however such an attempt was missing in North Karnataka, especially with regard to Doddata, Sannata and Gombeyata.
The need of the hour is to revive and promote these arts, failing which they will all disappear without a trace, he says.
In order to keep these various folk arts alive, the State Government has to relocate academies such as Janapada to North Karnataka and also identify artists who have dedicated their entire life to the cause of art.
At the same time, artists have to blend the traditional with the modern and make the show attractive to the audience. Globalisation has already take its toll on traditional art forms and any laxity will only mean pushing them to a corner.
Art & recognition
The artists’ fraternity of North Karnataka rejoiced when the State Government presented the Academy award to Mr Veerappanna Kallappa Kundgol, an expert in Sannata, Jaggalagi and Mullina Hejje recently.
Hailing from Sulla village in the Hubli taluk of Dharwad district, Mr Kundgol has been working for the survival of folk arts of North Karnataka for the past 40 years. He was awarded by the Karnataka Janapada and Yakshagana Academy in the Bayalata category.
Though Mr Kundgol has studied only up to fourth standard, his knowledge in the field of folk arts is not less than that of a research scholar. According to him, he developed a love for folk arts in his childhood when his father practiced bhajans and Bayalata.
Mr Kundgol has achieved excellence in the fields of Sannata and Doddata, learning extensively from both senior and contemporary artists like Erappa Katti Basappa Gudageri and Vasant Narayan Rannavare.
His speciality is Bayalata and he is popular as a storyteller from the background. His good physique has helped him in essaying female roles in mythological dramas like Rati Kalyana, Suganda Pushpaharana, Sampurna Ramayana and others.
As an artist, he has performed Bayalata, Sannata, Jaggalagi, Mullina Hejje, Karadi Majalu and Ajalu in Mizoram, Howrah, Kolkata, Rajasthan, Hyderabad and other places and won a lot of appreciation. Besides, he along with his troupe Sri Siddarameshwara Sannata and Jaggalagi Mela, has given many performances in Kannada Sahitya conferences in Bangalore, Mysore, Bagalkot, Moodbidri and Bidar. According to him, his biggest achievement has been giving ‘saath’ to Dr Rajkumar in the movie Aakasmika and Ambarish’s Annanvru.
He is training 10-15 children in Bayalata and Sannata in his small house itself. “Goddess Saraswati has been kind towards me but not Goddess Lakshmi. I get a monthly pension of Rs 500 which is not at all sufficient to meet my expenses. I do not have a harmonium and hence I am forced to take it on rent by paying an exorbitant fee. As a result, I am only carrying Jaggalagi to the World Kannada meet to be held in Belgaum this year,” he says.