During a five-day workshop at Azim Premji University on Dhrupad, Odissi, Cheriyal painting, Hatha yoga and Kamsale, SPICMACAY organised performances by them at various venues in Bangalore. These exhibitions and performances were part of SPICMACAY’s endeavour to take the arts closer to the youth.
Kamsale, a folk dance belonging to Mysore region was staged at Samhita Academy, Bannerghatta Road where over 1000 students thronged to witness the spectacular Kamsale kunita by Male Mahadeshwara Kamsale Yuvakara Sangha (MMKYS), Mysore. As the troupe decked in orange kurtas began to sing these folk songs in a dialect of Kannada native to the region, city-bred children listened to it with wonderment and joined the performers by clapping to the clangs of the Kamsale, a metal, rhythm instrument. They cheered the most when the artistes formed vertical formations. At the end of the performance, the children were so enamoured by the artistes that they quarrelled with each other to pose questions to the Kamsale artistes.
After such a mood-lifting performance, Revanna, the Director, MMKYS spoke about the form and its origins. Interview:
When did you form this troupe? What made you to think of taking this folk dance to places afar?
When I was learning Kamsale under one Chikka Mariyappa from my own village, my guru used to send a few boys with me to perform in the neighbouring villages. Why don’t I establish a full-fledged troupe for performing Kamsale and take it to places where it is unfamiliar -- I asked myself. The troupe is ten years old now and the response we have been receiving over the years has only been rising.
Kamsale padas enumerate the mythical stories of Male Mahadeshwara Swamy at Male Madeshwara Hills.
(Some of the members begin to sing the story of how the Swamy came to the hill.) Going by one of the Kamsale padas, the Swamy came from a Northern land through the plantain farms and finally reached these hills (Male) and lived the rest of his life here. Though nobody knows from when Lord Mahadeshwara is here, villagers have been singing these hymns for many centuries, and it has passed on orally.
This kunita has plenty of acrobatic movements.
It was essential during those days to climb upon one and other to ascend the hill that was covered with thick vegetation. To instil balance and agility in devotees climbing up the holy hill, these gymnastic movements were naturally introduced into this dance form.
Does this instrument kamsale signify something?
The instrument kamsale has a gari (plate) and an adi battalu (cup). If gari signifies the sky, adi battalu represents the earth. Together the kamsale taala is a symbol of this whole creation by god.
Are women allowed to perform Kamsale?
Traditionally, only men used to dance this. However, in the present times girls are not barred from learning it. Women groups are emerging from some of the colleges in the State that stage Kamsale shows for various festivals.
How do you choose members for your troupe?
We take boys above the age of five. Interest is the only criteria to learn Kamsale. We teach them for free in the evenings. It is more of a recreational activity for us who work during the day as farmers, auto drivers, shopkeepers and in various other capacities.
Once the kids pick it up, they can join our performing wing that currently consists of 30 men between the age of 20 and 50. The adult group practices rigorously ahead of a scheduled programme.