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Kerala rural boys popularising bamboo with a musical fusion
Friday, 14 December, 2007
Kottanellur (Thrissur District) Kerala, Dec.13 (ANI): A group of rural youngsters in Kerala, who have gathered under the banner of Creator, is promoting the use of bamboo through musical instruments made of bamboo.
Hailing from Kottanellur village in the State's Thrissur District, these enthusiasts recently demonstrated their skill of generating music from instruments made of bamboo at the Kerala Bamboo Fest-2007. The event was held at the Town Hall in Ernakulam.
They brought life into drums and dribbling rainmaker percussion instruments with dexterity.
The group, which is better known as "Creator" said they are determined to promote bamboo handicrafts and musical instruments.
Formed five years ago by Unnikrishnan Pakkanar, the musical troupe is keen on promoting products made of bamboo.
"We used to make musical instruments and toys for children using bamboo, which makes tik tak like sounds, like this one called the rainmaker, which is available in the market now. Later, we thought of making different kinds of instruments like bongos and drums using bamboo," said Unnikrishna Pakkanar, the founder of "Creator".
The group claims that its brand of folklore music is original. Till now, the troupe has made over 60 instruments.
"Creator" has performed in nearly 70 stage shows in villages, but doesn't believe in publicity. They think it is more important to promote awareness rather than a business.
Each member of the troupe has been trained in classical music and imparts lessons in music to village children. So far they have trained over 150 young students.
K.S. Bishoy, a member of the "Creator", believes that the sole purpose of forming the group is to create more awareness about bamboo and its usage among the youth.
"Now, we have plans of opening up a technical and musical institute in our village and to teach music to youngsters to create a new generation to follow this tradition," said K.S. Bishoy, a member of the Creator.
This group has been invited to perform at a function here on New Year's eve. Creator intends to use 60 bamboo instruments in the performance.
Kerala accounts for about 19 per cent of the total bamboo grown and distributed in India.
It is estimated that at least three lakh Keralites depend on bamboo for their livelihood.
Mat production out of bamboo reeds is a basic cottage industry activity.
India has the second-largest reserve of bamboo in the world.
During the seventh World Bamboo Congress held in 2004 in Delhi, the then prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said: There is a great beauty in bamboo's amazing range of functionality. In a flute, it creates music; in brush and paper, it creates poems and paintings; and in simple sticks and strips in the hands of ordinary men and women, it inspires wondrous works of art." (ANI)
--MP
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