Two novels — Kothamangalam Subbu’s Thillana Mohanambal , that made waves as a novel and later as a film, and Kalki Krishnamurthy’s novel Therazhunthur Sivakozhunthu — place nagaswaram and thavil music in an exalted position in the literary world.
While nagaswaram and thavil players in the composite Thanjavur district continue to command respect in spite of changed social circumstances, the plight of these musicians elsewhere still remains unheard. Now, noted writer S. Ramakrishnan, in his forthcoming novel Sancharam , gives a poignant portrayal of their lives.
“As musicians, they may be close to god. But as human beings, their caste denies them a respectable place in society,” said Mr Ramakrishnan.
The novel to be released on January 4 has placed their music and struggle for a livelihood in the context of the decline in agriculture in the karisal bhoomi (rain-fed areas) of Tamil Nadu.
It is also a story about the shattered dream of a nagaswaram player Pakkiri, who wants to scale the heights of music after learning about great musicians and their music from his father.
“But Pakkiri and his senior in the troupe, Rathinam, have to be content with concerts at marriages and temple festivals. They play classical concerts as well as naiyandi melam as they no longer harbour any illusions about the lofty ideals they dreamt of while learning the art. It is only a source of survival,” said Mr. Ramakrishnan.
As in many parts of Tamil Nadu, the arrival of Kerala’s Chenndai Melam spelt further decline in the fortunes of nagaswaram players. “Nothing can be more humiliating than asking a musician to perform when there is ear-piercing sound around him that drowns out his music,” he said.
What actually prompted him to write on the subject was the “haunting image” of nagaswaram and thavil players waiting endlessly in bus stands or running to board buses while carrying their heavy instruments.
“More often than not they will be told to board the next bus as there is hardly any space for their instruments, particularly the thavil ,” said Mr. Ramakrishnan.
There are scenes in the novel, portraying the artists travelling atop buses as they could not be accommodated inside.
“When we think about nagaswaram and thavil players, we conjure up images of the greats in the fields from Thanjavur. I have written about the lesser mortals in these karisal lands,” he said.
Mr. Ramakrishnan said it was beyond his comprehension why even those who enjoyed their music refused them honour in the name of caste. “The novel tells the dual face of society,” he said.