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Tunes of the desert
P. ANIMA
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Nek Mohammad and his group recreated the energy and vibrancy of Rajasthan with their performance.
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Photo: Shanker Chakravarty
vibrant The energy at the Langas’ performance was infectious.
The pulse and soul of the evening was “Rajasthan”. At The Ashok, the event was the launch of Juhi Sinha’s book on the State of colours and palaces, “Beyond the Dunes – Journeys in Rajasthan”. While the beauty of th
e land – where camels tread against the golden sun and dusty damsels break into breathtaking swirls – was celebrated, it was the special performance by the Langa musicians that gave a real peek into the people of the place and their traditions.
Among the many tribal folk music traditions of the State, the Langa and the Mangniyar communities are synonymous with their music. “For the Langas, music is both hobby and vocation,” writes Sinha. The performers of the evening were led by Nek Mohammad, hailed as one of the best Langa singers in Rajasthan.
“They live in the deserts of Jodhpur. The Langas’ tradition had almost died off until tourism revived it. Now they are performers on the international circuit,” explained Sinha. As the five singers took their place on the stage along with their instruments, they proved music was inherent to their existence. Soulful, yet rustic, their songs brought alive the tunes of the desert. The songs began on a serene tone, often with no musical accompaniments and then went on to gather steam and ended with a flurry of instruments. The artistes sang a range of songs from Sufi music to Meera bhajans in Marwari. Nek Mohammad and his team brought alive the energy and vibrancy of the Langas’ music incredibly well. There was also an element of surprise in store. The singing was at times accompanied by some splendid dancing by Samda.
She often danced merely to the accompaniment of earthy instruments, and her agility and grace drew applause from the audience. Clad in a long black, mirror-worked skirt and blouse, with the braids and the bangles in place, Samda made optimum use of the small stage as she swirled from corner to corner. After about 10 songs, Samda took over the stage again on request. It was obvious that the energy of the performers was infectious.
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
|
