The Ananda Jodhi Band Troupe and the Ravidharma Orchestra Troupe, both based in Vellalapatti village near Karuppur town in Salem district, were performing separately at the reception accorded to Tamil Maanila Congress leader G. K. Vasan in Vellalpatti village recently.
Both the troupes attracted good crowd and even Mr. Vasan spent a few minutes in watching their performance.
hey are the centre of attraction at all the functions being held in the urban areas, semi-urban towns and villages. Be it a marriage or house warming ceremony or ear boring ceremony or temple festival, the band and ‘thappattam’ troupes attired in uniforms, render performance and in the process attract both young and old who flock the event.
Though the band and thappattam troupes spread joy and provide added attraction, in reality they suffer in silence due to waning patronage.
Due to several factors, including increase in the strength of the troupes, economic measures and curtailment of ceremonies, the performance by these troupes are slowly becoming a thing of the past.
Every member of the troupe is skilled in playing musical instruments such as drums, trumpet, clarinets, traditional ‘duff’ and parai and the performance of the troupes on festival occasions lasts for about three to four hours.
Though the troupe comprises about 25 members, the strength varies from one function to another, depending upon the economic affordability of the organisers. At some events like according to reception to political leaders, more than one troupe is engaged at different centres in the same village or locality.
Till a decade ago, the performance of such troupes particularly in the marriage processions formed an essential component of the celebrations, in both urban and rural areas. Their popularity could be gauged from the fact, that band troupes are present even in the remote villages. Some big villages even possess more than one troupe.
They have almost become a thing of the past in both towns and villages. But the waning trend is witnessed only in Tamil Nadu, observe a cross section of the North Indians settled in Salem city. The ‘baraat’ procession which signifies the arrival of groom’s family members and relatives to the wedding venue are still an integral part of marriage ceremonies in North India, says S. Omkar of Rajasthan, running business in Salem city.
Despite all these odds, the city still accounts for a number of such troupes.
Every member of the troupe is skilled in playing a specific musical instrument.
Guru Brass Band troupe functions in the city for the past two and a half decades. When P. Sundaradass formed this band troupe it enjoyed good patronage. Now his son S. Selvam is in-charge of the troupe, which has a membership of 25 persons. “When my father was running the troupe, we were getting about 10 programmes every month. But we hardly get two programmes a month these days”, says Mr. Selvam.
A few months in the Tamil calendar year are considered auspicious for solemnising marriages. During such seasons, we get about four programmes’, he adds.
Due to the poor patronage, most of the members of the troupe rely on other trades for their livelihood. But they periodically undergo rehearsal for improving their performance, Mr. Selvam adds. The situation is no different in rural centres. The Ananda Jodhi Band Troupe and the Ravidharma Orchestra Troupe, both based in Vellalapatti village near Karuppur town in Salem district, were performing separately at the reception accorded to Tamil Maanila Congress leader G. K. Vasan in Vellalpatti village recently.
Both the troupes attracted good crowd and even Mr. Vasan spent a few minutes in watching their performance.
“We have 50 youth as members and get about five programmes a month. This is certainly not adequate enough to run the troupe”, says R. Nehru founder of the Ananda Jodhi troupe. The troupe has to spend much for the maintenance of all the instruments and a majority of the troupe members are farm workers who took special interest in learning the musical instruments, he pointed out.
Many youth are interested in joining the troupe and we are imparting training to them. Good patronage will ensure in further strengthening the troupes, says M. Dharmadurai of Ravidharma Orchestra.
Many youth are interested in joining the troupe and we are imparting training to them. Good patronage will ensure in further strengthening the troupes