Madurai's Ancient Folk Song Tradition Faces Decline
As Lord Kallazhagar's arrival in Madurai, entry into the Vaigai river, and return continue to enthral thousands, a centuries-old oral tradition of welcoming him with folk songs has been struggling to keep pace with time. The songs are rendered by a group of people called Varnipaalargal. While very few are well-versed in this art, the number of people who sing it has been shrinking.
The Content of the Songs
The song contains hymns that praise the Azhagar mountain, where Azhagar resides, and the way Kallazhagar dresses, with descriptive notes such as the colour of his attire, the nature of the mountain, and the beauty of the horse he rides. One of the few keeping the art alive is G Nakhul Balakrishna, a 13-year-old Class X boy who has been singing the folk song since he was 4. "Tallakulam Saalaiyil Vedi Sattham Kekudhange..." (the sound of cracker explosions can be heard on Tallakulam Road), he sings in a high-pitched note.
Family Tradition
"My son is the only person who sings this song in Tallakulam. My father and I taught him," said Nakhul's father Ganeshan. He noted that the new generation has been hesitant to follow the tradition. "I enjoy it immensely. I used to listen to my grandfather sing, and that is what sparked my interest," Nakhul said.
Reasons for Decline
Prasanna Dhanushkodi of Madurai, who has been rendering the songs for nearly 27 years, explained: "The reason for the dwindling interest is that the song has not been properly documented as it was sung by our forefathers without any written notes." He added, "Now I am teaching my son to sing and he is getting ready. Once Azhagar permits, he too will start singing. This is how it passes on to our generations."
Duration of Songs
He said his forefathers had the capacity to sing for around an hour; the song includes lyrics describing a series of events like Mohini Avataram, Poopallaku, and Ethir Sevai, between Kallazhagar's start of journey and return. "As a group of five people, we are collectively able to sing for only about 30 minutes now. Although there are only a few who can sing for up to an hour, their numbers are steadily declining," he added.
He appealed to those who continue to sing the song to preserve the 300-year-old tradition.
