In memorium: naajar (part-1)
V. Chowdary Jampala (cjampala@dayton.net)
Wed, 19 Mar 1997 12:00:02 -0500 (EST)
In memorium:
Padmasree S.K. Naazar.
Burrakatha is a uniquely Telugu form of balladeering.
A member of the family of yakshagaanams,it is considered
a derivative of the older jamgam katha, Saarada katha etc.
Typically, the burrakatha is told by the main story teller
(kathakuDu) using a tamburaa accomapnied by (vanthalu)
a comic (haasyagaaDu) and a commentator (raajakeeyam), both
using a small drum. Decked in colorful clothes and turbans, these
balladeers combine song, music and dance to dramatize heroic
ballads. Burrakathas are especially effective in invoking
rowdra, bheebhatsa, veera and karuNa rasaas. The singers can
make the audience feel the tenseness of fiercely raging
battlefield in one minute, and then make them cry about the
fallen valiant hero the next minute. Of course, the comic and
his straight man would lighten up the proceedings when the
other emotions become overwhelming. Needing very little in
the way of props, this is truly a simple folk art.
In Andhra Pradesh, the word burrakatha immediately evokes
the name of 'naazar'. Naajar, almost single handedly popularized
this art form in the last sixty years. Often writing his own
songs, naazar became famous for the way he told the stories of
palnaaTi yuddham and bobbili yuddham among the many other ballads
he sang. He worked for a long time with the prajaa_naaTya_manDali
taking his stories to the far and wide corners of Andhra Pradesh.
Of course, he used these ballads about ancient heroes to convey a
more modern message about the eradication of caste barriers, evils
of gambling, patriotism and nationalism, putting the society
ahead of self etc.
Most of the current practitioners of burrakatha are trained by him
or follow his style. He is calledthe burrakathaa_pitaamaha. His
contributions to the Telugu cultural field are recognized with a
padmaSree by the Government of India. He died last month at the
age 0f 84..
I first saw naazar, in the film 'aggiraamuDu', where his team
narrated the burrakatha of the freedom fighter alloori
seetaaraamaraaju. I was impressed by the power evoked in a short
span of time that the film allowed him (it was either three and
a half minutes segment or a seven minute segment). My father
then told me about the live performances of naazar that he
watched during his youth and about the 'draw' naazar had among
people.
Several years later, during my college days in Guntur, Sri CVN
Dhan of Ravi College arranged a felicitation of Sri Naajar. I had
the opportunity to watch naajar perform a short segment from his
palnaaTi yuddham. He was an old man by then, and clearly past his
prime. Still, what we saw that day was impressive. I still remember
the wistfulness that I and my friends felt about not having been
able to watch naajar at his prime. I would really like to have a
recording of naajar at his prime.
(To be continued)
Regards. --- V. Chowdary Jampala