Lost art brought to the fore

Different Strains

With an aim to create awareness about mukhaveene, the dying art form, the Alumni Association of Bhavan’s HB College of Communication and Management organised a musical evening at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.

The event featured the renowned rural artiste, Mukhaveene Anjenappa.

The mukhaveene is a special kind of instrument used in folk art, which has three different components. While playing the instrument, the artiste has to hold his breath and play all three in perfect coordination. The main objective of the event was to encourage rural artistes. Anjenappa, who hails from Chikaballapur district, has dedicated his entire life to the world of music.

Throughout the evening, the audience enjoyed the rural art form and appreciated Anjenappa’s effort to spread the importance of the musical folk art. Apart from the mukhaveene, Anjenappa also performed various Kannada and Hindi songs. Each of his performances was followed by thunderous applause from the audience. Though the event only managed to attract a moderate crowd, the artiste’s hard work and dedication while playing the musical instrument was accoladed by those who were present at the musical evening. The hall was filled with the sounds of mukhaveene and people carefully listened to Anjenappa’s musical creativity.

Professor Usha Shinde, from HB College of Communication and Management, spoke to Metrolife about the aim behind the concert. She said that the Alumni Association, which was formed six months ago, provides a platform for rural artistes, while gathering the alumni of the college.

“We organised various programmes in six months, through which people will
become informed about this diminishing art,” she explained.

Dressed in traditional attire, Anjenappa, who is in his late 70s, won the hearts of the audience. Surrounded by his instruments, he seemed to enjoy every second of his performance and one could figure out he completely immersed himself in the mukhaveene. The mukhaveene had been presented to him as a family heirloom.

Anjenappa has already earned praises in the past for choosing to sing in his unique style, rather than choosing to sing in the traditional manner. Thus, his work is different and unique.