The Manganiyars, unparalleled geniuses of folk music, are charging as high as over a lakh for a performance. The self-trained young generation of the community is crafting new tunes as per the changing taste of the audience. By Karan Bhardwaj
There was no written script… no formal notes… no set tunes… yet it was a magical moment when some 40 Manganiyars from Marwar region of Rajasthan staged a fusion performance at a morning session on the second day of Jodhour RIFF. Some excelled in vocals while others captivated the audience with commendable expertise in different instruments like morchang, khartal, kamaycha, dholak andsurnai. What was more intriguing was the presence of young guns at the front rather than old icons of Manganiyars. They are determined to take Indian folk music to new heights and are already creating waves across the globe.
Fusion call
The reason why Manganiyars are so demanded in the international arenas is their ability to observe and understand the modern taste of music lovers. And if you think folk art in India is only about old people who are not evolving with times, then this is for you. The 25-year-old Rais Khan has done several shows here and abroad and has also featured twice in MTV Coke Studio. He is known for blending his morchang (instrument) tunes with orchestra by popular names like Clinton Cerejo and Amit Trivedi. During the performance at Mehrangarh Fort, he along with his brother Kheta Khan (at khartal), presented an exciting fusion with electronic beats. The 10-minute performance ended with a standing ovation. “I have been listening to classical icons and my taals are deeply influenced by Zakir Hussain’s music. I used to wonder if he can experiment with tabla, why cannot we do the same with our instrumentsIJ So, I began listening to different kinds of music and gradually crafted new tunes. The music which we were playing 50 years back cannot be static in these times. And it is our responsibility to adapt to changing tastes of music,” said Rais. Sitting next to him, Kheta Khan, 37, creates magic with his khartal beats. He credits his evolving understanding of music to the collaborations they do with foreign artists. “We observe when we perform with them. We want to be at par with them and as dynamic as they appear on stage,” asserted the master. Both the brothers are a part of larger band called Barmer Boys. The young generation is committed to take the 400-year-old legacy forward. “The question of talking up some other profession arises when you are dying out of hunger. We are doing concerts and get sufficient fund for our livelihood. For the rest, our patrons take care,” he said.
Price matters
When popularity seems to be rising each day, Manganiyars’ economic condition is bound to improve. From Maharajas’ courtyards to international audience, it has been a noteworthy journey. Today, they charge as high as over a lakh. TV shows and prestigious platforms like Jodhpur RIFF have only added to the repute. “Our fee depends on the venue, scale and reputation of the programme. Sometimes, we even perform for free for our patrons,” said Kachara Khan, an iconic vocalist who renders sufi kalam. However, he also added that the patrons are above all festivals and fairs. “If they call us, we can give up over 25 such festivals. They are our God,” he said.
Partial growth
In a community where males have crossed borders to prove their mettle, females, shockingly, haven’t been able to transcend the walls. As Manganiyars follow Rajputana culture, women follows age-old customs and maintains parda. But they do perform at the women-centric occasions, not for the commercial reasons. “Women sing during the pre-wedding rituals for the bride. They are allowed to step out and stage a show like us. She cannot even appear without veil in front of elderly men of the family,” said a Manganiyar. It was a surprise treat for RIFF visitors to catch a performance led by three women from the community. They belted out couple of songs performed during the celebrations for a new born. However, they refused to talk to us as “men are the only representatives” of the Manganiyar community.
Family marks
Traditionally, Manganiyars have been performing for last four centuries. They have survived on the patronage of wealthy traders, landlords and aristocrats. They celebrate joy at different occasions and sing songs in praise of their jajman (patrons). In Rajasthan, their patrons comprise Rajputs, some Muslims and Brahmins, too. Interestingly, they are self-trained musicians and don’t have a formal guide. “We don’t rehearse. What we perform is our preparation as well as the final take. In our group, it is aid that even a new-born cries in a perfect tune,” said 20-year-old Shafi Khan. True, they may not be as popular as lata Mangeshkar or AR Rahman, but they are certainly legends in their own right.