 Online edition of India's National Newspaper Thursday, Sep 25, 2008 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version |
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Tamil Nadu
TOUGH TIMES: V. Velu, a renowned ‘karagam’ artiste and Kalaimamani awardee, with his wife Pandiammal. The increase in prices of essentials has compounded the misery of rural artistes. Apart from pushing them towards a vicious circle of indebtedness, inflation has forced them to cut down on nutritious food. Says V. Velu, a renowned ‘karagam’ artiste and Kalaimamani awardee, “We have work only six months a year, from ‘Thai’ (mid January) to ‘Aani’ (June). The rest of year, we are forced to depend on loans to make both ends meet.” His wife Pandiammal says prices of all vegetables from carrot to tomato have shot up with some having doubled. “We also cannot cut down on meat as the folks at home are accustomed to it and cannot do without it. So, we are borrowing more now than we did six months ago.” When the troupe went to other cities for performance, Mr. Velu says, they pack food from home as they cannot afford to eat at restaurants. The expenditure on food alone has shot up from around Rs.5,500 six months back to Rs.7,000 now. However, the income, at Rs. 10,000, remains the same. Echoing similar views, ‘Panaiyur’ P. Raja, a ‘thappattam’ artiste and a ‘Kalaivalarmani’ awardee, says the absence of a permanent income and the fact that they are dependent solely on this art for livelihood make life difficult. “Earlier, the material meant for ‘thappam’ such as buffalo skin worked out to Rs. 150 for 3 thappams. Now the same costs around Rs. 700,” he says. Meeting this increased expense with Rs. 250-a-day earnings is a tough task, he says. His troupe performs 10 programmes a month. Things were more difficult some decades back as the thappattam was confined only to death ceremonies. However, now, the art has come out and things are looking up, he says. His spouse R. Arumugam, says “We are already going through very tough times. The inflation is only adding to our woes.” Health is the most important thing for a folk artiste and the steep rise in the prices of health food has come as a rude shock. Says M. Shahul Hameed, a practitioner of rural martial arts and Director of Simashan Institute here, “The cost of protein-rich chicken, egg and milk has risen steeply. Also, the increase in petrol prices is pinching us hard.” The huge increase in property tax revision has meant an increase in building rentals. “We are under stress to increase our programme rates. However, our clients would not be pleased. Also, health consciousness is growing among the public now. If rates go up, they will not come for martial art classes.” The problems posed by inflation do not stop with business, he says, adding that domestic expenditure has also shot up. Balancing all these needs is perhaps a very tough ‘walking-the-tight-rope’ act.
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