RIFF director Divya Bhatia is devoted to getting folk artistes their due beyond their occasional foray into films and TV. He chats with Karan Bhardwaj
As a kid, theatre actor and director Divya Bhatia listened to folk artistes on AIR. little did he know that his admiration for Rajasthani musicians would crystallise into a calling and help in his 11-year riyaaz as a tabla player. Today he is the proud director of Jodhpur RIFF (Rajasthan International Folk Festival), which is not only acknowledged worldwide for its fusion potential and collaborations but also for revolutionising the way folk music and artistes are perceived in this country.
How did you get on board as the director of RIFFIJ
I fell in love with folk artistes and their amazing voices and texture as they played on radio in the background. Sub-consciously, they became a part of my upbringing and may have influenced my stint in theatre. Then the Jaipur Virasat Foundation called me up to spearhead this festival. I am a huge believer of possibilities in the folk world and see how it has evolved over the years.
What are the challenges in getting the eyeballs of international artistesIJ
Thankfully, most of them know the milieu of Rajasthan through tourism. But we choose artistes who are genuinely interested in Rajasthani musicians and their riffs. Only when there is a deep understanding can there be respect for fusion and collaborations. Our festival is first about great bonding and then about working together.
last year, a group called Maru Tarang performed at RIFF. They connected so well with Western musicians that they made it to Celtic Connections, a festival in Glasgow in January. They are also taking part in WOMEX, a world music expo in Spain in October. Then, they will be touring for six festivals in Australia next March.
Members of the Kawa Brass Band performed at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where they collaborated with a Scottish band. Our guys are young while their Scottish counterparts are in their 40s. Yet they blended beautifully. Now that Scottish band is coming to RIFF this time. Then this collaboration travels to Celtic Connections in Glasgow. RIFF is just one dot in this long line of making connections, touching chords and hearts.
Traditional musicians of Rajasthan have been marginalised for several decades despite their occasional exotic appeal. How do you hope to mainstream themIJ
They are asked to pitch in for occasional vocals in Hindi films, reality shows on TV and collaborative albums. They are even invited to weddings and private events. But for all such forays, they have not been able to break caste or social barriers. They cannot eat with the guests or sponsor because they belong to a lower caste. There is fusion of art but what about union of soulsIJ That is one issue which bothers me immensely.
The remuneration of folk artistes is nothing compared to other musicians. Did you know that a group collectively makes Rs600 for a single performance. If there is no money, why would the next generation be interested to continueIJ A folk musician makes for an interesting annexure to a tourism brochure because he entertains tourists.
But the tourism sector has not taken it upon itself to protect, promote and groom the artistes, help them get their due or encourage them to refine their skills. You have to revitalise them so that can develop and bring newness to their repertoire. Without meaningful patronage, folk music and their performers are actually dying. I hope to take the legacy forward in my little way. We didn’t want to preserve folk music but infuse it with a fresh breath. Unless we can create an energy of artistry and creativity among local and global artistes, we cannot make a difference.
That RIFF has been successful can be gauged from the fact that this year’s Coke Studio featured more Rajasthani artistes than previous year, 14.
We had introduced Bhanwari Devi to Ram Sampath in 2010. When the former got an opportunity to showcase his skill on Coke Studio, he asked me if he could get Bhanwari to the show. For the first time, a woman Rajasthani folk musician was on TV. I have even taken her to Edinburgh and Norway. We are working with hundreds of exceptional artistes.
But RIFF is not altruistic; you must be making enough to mount a show year after yearIJ
Our interest was never commercial. But 60 to 70 per cent of our revenue comes from ticket sales. Our festival is not a sponsored one. We don’t put up hoardings or billboards of brands. Sponsors ask us to keep it for free but put up huge branding banners. But what is the culture we create in this processIJ That you do not need to pay for folk performances and are enjoying them as a largesse of big brands who are expecting you to be loyal to them instead. Why do we perceive only art in this manner and not films or fashionIJ We don’t have a culture to give value to live performers.
Our model is different from other music fests. We are creating value. If anything has to last, it has to have value. Bechara mat boliye kalakaar ko, unke gun dekhiye (Don’t pity the musician, value his music). The commerce may take several years but we are moving in the right direction. After the success of RIFF, newer festivals like Ragasthan have cropped up.
Media interest has multiplied manifold. Media paid complete attention to Mick Jagger in the first two years of the festival. Celebrities don’t need attention, our festival and folk artistes do. I think there has been a change in perception.
Now that films are using Rajasthani folk artistes, do you feel pressured to compete in the commercial spaceIJ
RIFF is not a response to popular music. If I bring that music to my space, there will be a conflict of interest. Also, we don’t wish to divert attention.