No takers for folk art forms in towns

Anantapur: Host of artistes, who perform folk art forms that are on the wane are looking for government patronage in the absence of public patronage.

There are more than 500 families, which are trying to keep alive the dying folk art forms. Patriarchs from these families said that if not for occasional patronage from government, the art forms would have been a thing of past.

Borvayyalu – a form of dance ballet performed by artistes draped in black blankets, Keelu gurralu, Urumulu, Tholubommalu, Chekka bahajana, Kolatam and other ancient and traditional art forms are hardly known to the digital generation.

Fortunately, the folk art and dance forms are not totally dead. They still find active patronage in rural areas as their services are utilised on some occasions.

However, the remuneration paid does not help them to make a living; as a result the artistes are turn into daily wage labourers. They do get occasional invitations to perform in urban areas, which are mostly government functions.

Thotakura Ramudu, a Keelu gurram artist from Rayadurgam talking to The Hans India' said that the government’s pension of Rs.1000 being paid to all artistes was a boon in the changed circumstances, where modern dance forms were preferred form of entertainment.

“Some affluent marriage parties hire us to reflect traditional culture in marriages. Otherwise nobody is interested to view a performance; even it is free of charge.

However in rural areas there are people, who insist on traditional art and dance forms during auspicious occasions,” Ramudu averred.

The Information and Public Relations (I&PR) department also hires them to perform during VIP visits and also for publicising the government schemes both at the state and central level, according to Thimmappa, additional director, I&PR.

“Besides, these artistes are also used by the Central government for campaigns t on subjects like iodine deficiency, Swachh Bharat, child labour, child marriages and others,” he added.

Sunitha, a Harikatha artiste says that the government should make it mandatory for the departments to utilise their services in awareness campaigns.