Rhythm and melody of Gamaka

Kannada literature is replete with many poetical works, also known as kavyas. At a time when literacy was at a low ebb, classical and folk art forms   played a significant role in taking literature to common people.

One such distinguished art form is Gamaka, which has evolved over a period of several centuries in the State and played a prominent role in popularising several classic works of Kannada. Gamaka is resplendent with musical and literary elements, and has the potential to provide a deep insight into literary works.

The word Gamaka also refers to ornamentation that is used in the performance of classical music. As an art form, it is the musical rendering of classic poetry with emphasis on literature.

Art of storytelling

The artiste who renders Gamaka recitals is called a gamaki. Normally two persons, a singer and an interpreter, are part of a recital. The singer sings the verses of a poetical work employing different ragas of Carnatic classical music. The raga is chosen by the singer to suit the mood or the rasa-bhava of the verse.

Hence, the renderer, known as vaachanakara, should have a good knowledge of music and should be well-versed in Kannada literature. Immediately after singing each verse, a scholar, known as vyakhyaanakara, explains the context of the verse with interesting anecdotes from mythology and history. The interpretations are often embellished with contemporary analogies.

In the past, poetry-reading sessions (without vyakhyaana) were organised in the precincts of temples. They were known as kavyavachana programmes. The Gamaka concerts, thus evolved, by imbibing the elements of classical music, became popular throughout the State. In the course of time, different styles of Gamaka recital have been explored. Gamaka recitals in Bengaluru and Mysuru regions incorporate the ragas of Carnatic music,  whereas the Gamaka artistes in Sagara and Thirthahalli regions use folk music.

The singer choses appropriate ragas to convey the mood of the verse. For instance, Raga Bhoopalam is chosen to present shrungara rasa, Raga Vasantha is chosen to indicate festive mood. Raga Bhairavi, Raga Nata, Raga Malavi, Raga Shree and Raga Bangala are some other ragas used to depict different moods.

Commonly heard classic works in Gamaka recitals include Kumaravyasa Bharata, Jaimini Bharata of Lakshmisha, Girija Kalyana of Harihara, Harishchandra Kavya of Raghavanka, Haribhaktisara of Kanakadasa, Gadha-Yuddha of Ranna, and the Pampa Bharata.

Scores of Gamaka exponents have strived with utmost dedication to promote and popularise the art form. Some of the revered Gamaka artistes are Basavappa Shastry, M Raghavendra Rao, S G Bindu Rao, Krishnagiri Krishna Rao, Kalale Sampathkumarachar, Thalakadu Maayigowdaru, Lakshmi Keshava Shastry, H M Ramaradhya, H Ramakrishna Shastry, Gangamma Keshavamurthy, Haadina Naagamma, A V Prasanna and Nirmala Prasanna. A special mention should be made about BSS Kaushik, who took the art form to greater heights. .

The Gamaka artistes of the State have formed an association under the title Gamaka Kala Parishat. The Parishat, whose objective is to popularise the art form, organises workshops and conferences at periodic intervals. It also conducts exams for the aspirants and confers certificates.