Scenes from a typical Tulu village

Be it the main pandal (where over 15,000 people can be seated), the artistic stage (200 x 40 feet) resembling the thousand-pillared basadi, a huge food court (where Tulunadu delicacies will be available), over 50 commercial stalls, book stalls, a laser show by Information Department, a separate venue for exhibition of Tulunadu artifacts and folklore items — the organisers are leaving no stone unturned. But, the star attraction is undoubtedly the Tulu village, being set up in a sprawling six-seven acre palm grove in the vicinity.

The moment you enter the Tulu village, you will be taken back at least 50 to 60 years in time. There you have the Guttu Mane (village head’s house), Shanubogara Mane (Village accountant’s house), Joisara Mane (priest’s house), Pandithara Mane (native doctor’s house), Gowdara Mane, Patelara (for justice) Mane, Dalit Colony, fishermen’s colony, bhajana mandir, temple or daivasthana which existed in a typical Tulu village.
Apart from houses, there are a number of shops in a pete (shopping area). They include Kamath’s hotel, beetle-leaf seller’s shop, barber’s shop, potter’s shop, goli-soda shop, cycle repairer’s shop, torch repairer’s shop and carpenter’s shop. In addition, there is a godha shale (gymnasium) and a primary school too!

A real village

The concept of Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari and World Tulu Convention Organising Committee Chairman Dr D Veerendra Heggade’s wife Hemavathi V Heggade is being implemented by none other than wellknown veteran artiste Jagadish Ammunje.

His team has been working hard for the last 45 days. All steps are being taken to give the village a real look - be it utensils, artifacts or agriculture equipment. “For example, there is a coconut yard, oil extraction unit using buffaloes and a cattle shed in Guttu Mane; a nyaya katte (where people used to seek justice) in front of Patel’s house and kavade in Joisara Mane,” says Ammunje. “There is no electricity in the village, except in a very few cases where zero-volt bulbs have been used so that the visitors can see the interiors of the houses. Gas lights and lanterns have also been used,” he says.

While Ammunje has created the Tulu village, senior theatre artiste Jeevanram Sullia is giving life to the village. He has trained 180 to 200 artistes to play the role of the villagers.

So, there is a Patela in the Patel’s house, his wife and children; a Shanubogue, a Gowda, a Joisa (priest), fishermen, Dalits, shop owners, their family members and customers, body builders, school going children, teachers and farm labourers,  ‘busy’ in their respective family occupations. On the last day of the Tulu convention, a marriage procession will leave from Gowda’s house and all ‘villagers’ will  participate, says Jeevanram.

To make the village more lively, the persons concerned will talk about the happenings in the village, and of course, the marriage in Gowda’s house will be the ‘talk of the town’. In fact, Jeevanram has also collected old AIR songs, speeches (by Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi), popular programmes of yesteryears like Agoli Manjanna, Harikatha, Tulu songs, agriculture news etc which can be heard through ‘radio sets’ from a few ‘well-to-do’ houses. Huli Vesha (tiger dance) and Bhootha Kola, Maari gidappuna (traditional rituals of Tulunaadu) too will be held.

Glorious past

The Jagadish Ammunje-Jeevanram Sullia duo have not left any stone unturned in recreating the village.

“While the oldies can go down memory lane, the youngsters will be introduced to the glorious past of Tulunaadu which has a rich history of thousands of years,” says Vishwa Tulu Sammelana General Secretary M Mohan Alva. The ‘Tulu village’ will be opened to the public from December 10.