Swaratma sways audience towards Badanavalu stir

With Badanavalu Satyagraha, aimed at creating awareness on sustainable practices, scheduled to be launched on April 19, various programmes are being organised to generate public opinion for it.

As part of the programmes, Swaratma, a popular music band of the country, with its origin in Mysuru, performed at Rangayana on Wednesday. The folk-fusion band, which has released two full length albums, is supporting the Satyagraha and is trying to raise awareness about the movement even on its Facebook page.

Members of the band, Vasu Dixit, Pavan Kumar, Sanjeev Nayak, Jishnu Dasgupta and Varun Murali, along with a guest drummer Karthik Mani, performed some of their popular tracks.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Vasu Dixit, said, Pavan Kumar, the percussionist was a supporter of the Satyagraha. “We are trying to contribute to the movement for sustainable living and development, through our music,” he said.

The setting at Rangayana, which was described as ‘minimalistic’ by Dixit, was also in accordance with the ideals being propagated through the Satyagraha. “Even though it is speeches that draw crowds for social movements, we feel that music too can be effective in creating awareness about issues among people,” he said.

Social causes
To a question, Dixit said, the band had performed for various social causes in the past also. “A few days ago, we performed at Kasouli, to raise funds for an NGO called Genesis, which works for terminally-ill patients. It is a coincidence that we are doing a second successive show for a cause,” he said.

On the Satyagraha and the music of the band, he said, Swaratma composed songs regarding the issues which the Satyagraha wishes to create a discussion on. “We have a song called ‘Pyaasi’, which explores the Cauvery water crisis. There is ‘Paathe Saare’, which raises questions on rapid urbanisation and its effects. There are a lot of similarities in our compositions and the movement,” he said.

Programmes
Among the programmes planned ahead of the Satyagraha, is an interaction with bilingual actor Irrfan Khan of ‘Life of Pi’ fame on April 10 at Gandhi Bhavan, Manasagangothri.
The actor is also expected to visit Badanavalu.

On April 15, a padayatra will be taken out from Gandhi statue in front of the District Court Complex to Badanavalu.

The padayatra will reach Badanavalu on April 19 to coincide with the launch of the Satyagraha. Besides, a group of cyclists will pedal to Badanavalu.

The Badanavalu Satyagraha is the brain child of theatre person and writer Prasanna.