It is the epicentre of folk art in Dharwad. So what exactly do you do through the Folk Research Centre? Women learn Janapada songs while Basavalingayya plays harmonium From then onwards, my work in spreading the knowledge of folk songs and art became formal. That's how the Folk Research Centre in Dharwad came into existence in 1995. In 1995, Ramkrishna Hegde, Former Chief Minister, J H Patel and M P Prakash approached me and asked me if I can start a research centre for future generations' sake. What led you to start the Folk Research Centre in Dharwad? The third category includes Janapada songs that have Vachanas written by social reformers, poems written by Kanaka Das and Purandara Das and many others. Then, we have songs that we sing while performing on stage. There are traditional songs, which are usually sung during festivals, when you put children to sleep, harvest season or during the demise of our close ones. Drama became a mode to spread the knowledge of Janapada songs to our youngsters across India and sometimes even in countries like America and London.Īre there different genres in Janapada songs? But we felt that we would be able to give more if we worked independently and bring many youngsters to the stage. The couple have acted together in more than 80 dramasĪfter we got married, a lot of drama schools in Karnataka invited us to be part of their organisation and direct plays for them. We held a total of 400 workshops across the state and that's when I met my wife Vishweshwari Hiremath, who also graduated from Ninasam.
I toured Karnataka with the Ninasam team to teach acting, Janapada songs and bring more people to act in theatre. By working with them in various plays, I improved my skills in acting and also worked as a music director for more than a year. Therefore, in 1986, I moved to Ninasam Drama School in Heggodu in Shivamogga to work with film directors like B V Karanth, K V Subbanna and others. One must try to explore in terms of knowledge and skills by going beyond borders. I believe that artists must not restrict themselves to one city or state. What was your time at the Ninasam Drama School like? During all these phases of education, I travelled from one place to another and performed several plays including Desaiyara Haavali Shettara Dewali.
Later, I found out and pursued an MA in Folklore from Karnatak University. Hence, I ended up pursuing a Bachelors in Commerce degree from Karnatak College in Dharwad. I performed on stage during my school and college days, but I didn't know which course had to be pursued if I had to continue in folk arts. Watching them sing and play music every day, I also started playing leg harmonium when I was only five. We tell stories from the Indian epics and the puranas. Both my parents were folk artists and they would not only sing Janapada songs but also perform Bayalaata, which are basically all forms of open-air theatre performances, including Yakshagana. I come from a family of artists who are originally from Bylur in North Karnataka's Kittur district. How old were you when you started singing folk songs and who inspired you to take up Janapada?