telugu vAri jAnapada kaLArUpAlu - another fascinating book
PALANA (nparinand@cas.org)
Fri, 24 Apr 1998 12:39:34 -0400
birudarAju rAmarAju's Amdhra jAnapada sAhityaM stands alone on the summit of
Telugu Folklore research literature. Now, the book entitled telugu vAri
jAnapada kaLArUpAlu written by mikkilinEni rAdhAkRshNamUrti joins birudarAju's
book and enjoys the same status.
This book contains a thouroughly researched work on the Folk Art of Andhra
which include Andhra Folk Dances, Andhra Folk Music, Andhra Folk Games, Andhra
Folk Plays and Dramas and what not. This book is a comprehensive treatise on
all aspects of Andhra Folk Arts and I wouldn't be afraid of calling it an
encyclopaedia on Andhra Folk Art.
This was published in 1992 by the Telugu University. The pictures were drawn by
Bapu - excellent India Ink line drawings. The book was dedicated by the author
to his beloved mother and father - paid his respects and dues. Very
heartmoving.
The authors intoductory words under the title "Why should I write?" (nEneMduku
rAyAli) is worth-reading. His portrait was drawn in India Ink by Bapu - really
adorable.
The first few pages after the authors' meaningful ramblings, contain a panorama
of the Andhra Folk Artists like Birudaraju Ramaraju, Tumati Donappa, Nedunuri
Gangadharam, Srinivasa Chakravarti, S.V. Jogarao, Nataraja Ramakrishna, Nayani
Krushnakumari, Shek Najar, Ellora, Gangappa, R.V.S. Sundaram, Tangirala Venkata
Subbarao, Koganti Gopalakrushnayya, Sampat Kumar, Hanumantha Rao, Bittu
Venkateswarulu, Krushnareddi, Kosaraju, Cukka Satteyya, and Kummari Mastaru.
The author takes the reader from the historic realms through lucid descriptive
paths of existing and extinct forms of Andhra Folk Art and also exposes the
naive reader to the Folk Arts of other regions of India. The author at one
point makes the reader feel that the entire Folk Art of Andhra is encapsulated
into a 729 pages of black and white Telugu book.
The chapters are: Nature worship and relationships with folk art, Satavahana
kings, Bobbli war and Fine Arts, Buddhist period, Calukya Period, Kakatiya
period, Palkuriki Somanna, maacaldEvi krIDABirAmaM, Dance and the Reddi kings,
Vijayanagara kings and Fine Arts, Music in Vijayanagara Empire, Tanjore and
Fine Arts, Golkonda Navabs and Fine Arts, Kuravala Kuravanji, Annamayya and SV
Jogarao (in terms of Yakshagana and Palkuriki), a comprehensive description of
Yakshaganas, Sculpture and Doll plays (tOlubommalu and bommalu), Doll play
Artists, jakkiNIs, cODigAni kalApaM, kUcipUDi and Siddhemdra, Bayalu nATakAlu,
Perini (pEriNi tAMDava nRtyaM) dance, Pagati veshalu (pagaTi vEshAlu),
rAyalaseema vipranOdulu, Rope Trick and Magic, Jangam stories, Burra kadhalu,
Budige Jangalu and Instrumentalists, Garadilu (gAraDIlu), Devadasi Nrutyalu
(dEvadAsI nRtyAlu), Mono Action, Hari Kadha, Anantapuram Meravani Gadya,
Ganacharla Gagara Nrutyam (gagara nRtyaM), ciMdu BAgavataM, Sidi Festivals,
Rayalasima and Jatti Jamu (jaTTi jAmu), Bhajanas and Rama Bhajanas, pAmulATalu
(Snake Charmers), goMDli Dance, Bengal Tiger Dance (pedda puli nRtyaM),
prabhalu, Dappula Nrutyam, jamukula kadhalu, Horse Dance (aSva nRtyaM),
gaMgamma jAtarlu, kattula gAraDI, vIraBadra vinyAsAlu, golla suddulu, Tribal
Dances, Tribal Music, Music Instruments, Cirutala Ramayanam, Eruka (eruka),
dommarOLLa dommarATalu, kanikaTTu (psychokinetics what not!), hariharI padAlu,
goravayya Dance, jaMtar maMtar jaMtar peTTe, ceMculu and SrIraMganItulu,
saMbarAlu, kATamarAju stories, vIrSaivu mushTivAru, Children' dasarA costumes,
vIdhi purANaM, oggu stories, katti sAmu and karra saamu (fencing), kOlATaM
dance, urumula nRtyaM (Thunder Dances), haridasas and saMkrAMti, ruMjaM
instrument play, gaMgireddu, vIdhi BAgavataM, baiMDlu, mahABArata street plays,
kASI kAvaDi, vasamtOtsavAlu, GaTa Dance, sULLUrupETa suLLu festivals, paMDari
bhajans, cemma cekka plays, gobbiyaLLu, SArakAMDru, vIra nATyaM, cekka Bajans,
buDabukkala jOsyaM (fortune Telling, teppeTa guLLu, palanaaTi vIra
vidyAvaMtulu, rAyalasIma jAnapadavidyAvaMtulu, piccukuMTalavAru, kommadAsari,
moharaM and pIrlu, Christians and Andhra Janapada (Folk) Arts, telaga dAsarulu
and gaMTe BAgavatulu, pIrla paMDagalu, daMDA gAnaM, viluvidya, other artists,
jyOti nRtyaM, jAlari nRtyaM, sugAlI nRtyaM, siddhI nRtyaM, and other varieties
of Andhra Folk Arts, Folk Fine Arts of different regions and districts of
Andhra, Folk Arts of different states of India, and Prjanatyamandali's
contributions.
Overall, this is a book well-balanced with content, description, and analysis.
As a kid, I witnessed some of these like ruMja, praBalu, sAmu etc. and enjoyed
reading this book. As far as my knowledge goes, this book is first of its kind
probably first of its kind ever written in any Indian language with such a
depth and coverage. Please correct me if I am wrong.
I have been an admirer and collector of literature on Folk Literature and Folk
Arts of Andhra, Orissa, and Bihar. Mikkilineni's work is superb. Above all,
this is written in Telugu.
If you want to know any thing (almost) about Andhra Folk Arts, please get a
copy of this book and read it. It is a collector's item and can decorate your
book shelf.
Also, every chapter has a line drawing by Bapu. You can also verify the
constumes pertinent to that form of art. It is very handy for those who would
like to perform something on the stage here.
Besides style, the content of this book is exceptional. This is an
encyclopaedia of Andhra Folk Art.
There are several others, actually pioneers who contributed a lot to the Andhra
Folk Art and Literature on the grounds of research and revival. For example
Tekumalla Kameswararao, Arudra, Kuchipudi Academy, and others. Some of their
pictures should have been added.
There is one more active researcher of our times is right here - Velcheru
Narayana Rao gAru, who has done exceptional work on Andhra Folk literature e.g.
Palanati Charitra, Palkuriki Somanadha etc. Especially VNR's works were brought
out in English and non-Telugus can have an opportunity to read those works,
besides their exceptional nature. The author, Mikkilineni, should have included
VNR's name and picture in this book, IMHO.
The reproduction of photographs is of inferior quality even though organization
and print quality are good.
What bothers me is the reference list section. This section is very poorly
organized and presented.
Above all, this is gift to all Telugus. Buy it, read it, and decorate your book
case with it.
Hats off! Dr. Mikkilineni Radhakrushna Murthy!
--pAlana
Disclaimer: Opinions Expressed Above Are Mine Only!