At a ripe old age of 83, Amritesh Master Kalashetty, a folk singer, composer, drama master and mythology orator, continues to perform whole-night events. With hundreds of songs ready on his tongue by-heart, he is one of the most sought-after mythology orators in the villages of Kalaburagi district.
Born in 1934 in an agricultural family at Pethashirur village in Chittapur taluk in the district, Mr. Kalashetty took no interest in academics as he was fascinated by folk music, drama and other cultural performances that were popular in the rural area.
After failing in Class V, he bid adieu to formal education to dedicate himself to cultural activities and emerged as a mature performer in due course. He mastered the art of playing the harmonium, flute, tabla, dholak and other musical instruments.
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As his popularity grew, people began to request him to be their drama master. For the next 40 years, he was the most sought-after drama teacher among amateur performers in the surrounding rural areas who would stage dramas once or twice a year in their villages during festivals.
Considering his popularity among villagers and ability to touch the hearts of the illiterate rural population with his profound oratory skills, the Department of Information involved him in its government-sponsored awareness campaigns such as the literacy campaign and the Family Planning drive.
Once the theme of the campaign is conveyed to him, he would do the rest: composing beautiful songs full of rhymes in the local dialect, going from one village to the other, assembling people in village-squares in the evenings and singing the songs with his tabla companion. He has thus served with the department for 38 years.
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He has so far written over 100 songs, all aimed at inculcating human values among the younger generations and guiding them on the right path. Now, he is planning to publish them in the form of a small booklet. Even now, he can recall from memory lyrics of almost all his songs and continue to sing with the same energy.
“Once I was waiting for a bus to go to a village for a performance at an awareness campaign organised by the Information Department. The office in-charge of the event told me, at the eleventh hour, to sing a new song. I wrote a song at the bus stop itself and also prepared myself through the journey and beautifully delivered it at the event,” Mr. Kalashetty recalled.
Mr. Kalashetty has now stopped performing at government-sponsored propaganda campaigns as payment process is lengthy. “At this age, I cannot run from pillar to post for payments. Now, I perform as a mythology orator at temples and other religious institutions. After delivering an oration for a whole night, I receive payment the next morning. I am busy for almost eight months a year,” he said.
Unfortunately, he has not been selected for any government award, except one from the Janapada Academy. “I would have received many more awards, including the Rajyotsava Award, if I had asked, I think. But, that is not my cup of tea,” he said.