He may be down in debts but his spirit is high. Steeped in penury, he sings songs of courage with his instrument for a companion. Meet Mogulayya, the kinnera veena balladeer who is struggling to keep the legacy of his music alive even as he battles poverty and indifference. Hailing from Mahbubnagar district, this folk singer was at Lamakaan, Hyderabad to give a performance recently. Accompanied by his family including his wife and children, the singer recalled his musical journey with his prized kinnera veena instrument. “Kinnera veena is our family legacy. The instrument was played by my great grandfathers, passed on to my grandfather, then to my father and now to me,” he says with a glow on his face. However, when he looks at his children, the glow fades. A folk artiste speaks with concern, “I do not know who will play this instrument after me. I cannot force my children to take it up as it is not providing any livelihood,” he says. Recalling the days when the kinnera veena was much respected, he says, “I used to play the instrument in front of a gathering, telling real and courageous stories,” he says and adds, “If there is a death in the family, the family members would be awake the whole night and I would be called to render the songs to keep them awake.” These folk stories were about real heroes who were like a friend to the poor and needy.
Over the years, heroes have been forgotten, so has the music, he rues.
The special feature of Mogulayya’s kinnera veena is that it contains 12 notes on which the strings are fixed. “These 12 notes are an innovation and this is the main highlight of the instrument which gives its sound,” he says. A normal kinnera veena has fewer notes.
While the body is made of hollow pumpkins and bamboos, honey comb wax is used as a gum to complete the coating of the instrument.
The singer was leading a desolate life until a chance discovery by a team brought him into focus. Besides Vaveesham, Chandrasekhar ‘Chego’ popularised Mogulayya’s art on the social media and a research scholar Dasari Ranga made his art form his research topic. Mogulayya’s teenaged son accompanies him during his performances. “He is unwell and has been on medicines. I have spent so much money for his wellbeing. I cannot carry on this without government’s help,” Mogalayya says with sorrow.
Mogulayya wants to teach the art to interested youngsters. “This will give me some money to take care of my family and also keep this ancient art form alive. My art should not die,” he says with folded hands.
Those interested to reach Mogulayya can contact: kalaadaara@gmail.com