VARIOUS TYPES OF FOLK/REGIONAL MUSIC OF KERALA Lijo K J Diploma 1
Generally folk songs of Kerala have a wide range of subject subjectss and are interes interestin tingly gly throwi throwing ng light light on condit condition ionss of primit primitive ive and present present life and thoughts. The music of folk songs are melodic in character and bears on it the mark and stamp of communal growth and activity. Some times these songs are accompanied by dance and drama. The main feature of these songs are simple language, oral tradition and specific interesting rhythmic patterns. They use certain words, without meaning, like theythom, theythom, thaithah, thaithah, thithathaar thithathaara a and tharikida tharikida to make these songs more rhythmic. Vaguely these folk songs can be classified as Thekkan paattu 1 and Vadakkan paattu southern and northern songs!. "ut these system is not so strict as all songs in both regions can heard out of these boundaries as well. #nother system of classification classification which can be seen in some books are related to the occasion or the conte$t conte$t in which which these songs are sung. Some e$amples are%& Samudhayika Paattukal Paattuka l 2 Songs related to certain community! %& Pulluvan %& Pulluvan Paattu, Malayar Paattu, Mannar Paattu Paattu and and Mappila Mappila Pattu Anushtana Paattukal Songs related to ceremonies! %& Kalasa %& Kalasa Paattu, Thiryuzhichil Paattu and Thottam Paattu Thozhil Thozhil Paattukal/ Paattukal/ Pani Paattukal Paattukal Songs related to work to reduce the strain of work ' some are sung during the work! %& Vithukila Paattu, Aravu Paattu, Vandi Paattu and Vanchi and Vanchi Paattu Vinodha inodha Paattu Paattu Songs Songs for pure pure entertai entertainme nment! nt! %& Kolkkali Paattu, Kaikotti Paattu and Kummaatti Paattu Kuttanaadan Paattu Paattu ! Songs sung near #lappu(ha and near Kuttanadu region " #aayaattu Paattukal )unting songs! %& Sung during they eat the animals they captured after hunting *e can also also see overl overlap appi ping ng of these these sectio sections ns wih wih regards to certain features. There are many musical instruments specific to Kerala rela relate ted d to folk folk musi music. c. Some Some of them them are are +ulluvaveena, ulluvaveena, #andhuni #andhuni,, $henda, $henda, Thakilu, Thakilu, %ha&, $heenikkuzha $heenikkuzhal, l, 'dakka and Thudi" and Thudi" ven some domestic instruments like Kinnam, like Kinnam, Kindi, $hem(u, Kalam and and Mani are Mani are also used for some songs. -or percussion instruments, there are specific •
•
•
•
• •
Paattu means song in /alayalam 0 Paattukal is is the plural word for Paattu
rhythmic patterns specific to Kerala are also used. Some rhythmic patterns are%& Adantha thaalam, $hem(ada Thaalam, Panchari thaalam and Marmma Thaalam" 1t involves a lifetime2s effort to collect all the details of the folk music genres of Kerala as it has such a wast folk music culture and many of the forms are near to e$tinction. 1n this essay, with the limitations regards to the errors which can be caused due to translation of collo3uial terms related to folk music, 1 am trying to discuss a few folk music genres which 1 personally e$perienced and researched about. 1 have added some available recordings of the folk songs in the attached listening guide. 1. Pulluvar Paattu
This is a kind of folk song which is sung by a community called 4 Pulluvar 5 lives in various parts of Kerala. Those )Pulluvar* lives in northern part of Kerala sing songs related to spirits and those from other parts sing songs related to Sarppam snake Gods!. They celebrate song festivals +sarppam paattu in Sarppa Kkavu and #aa-a Kshetram "oth are places where they worship snake Gods!. They decorate the places and put 4 Sarppakkalam* it is a drawing, looks similar to Kolam or .an-oli in other parts of india! and they sing in front of it. They use instruments like Pulluva veena, Pulluva kkudam and Kuzhithaalam for accompanying these songs. These people go to houses and sing in the courtyard for the wellbeing of the people in the house and to get relieved from the curse from the snake Gods.
Pulluvan paattu •
Sarppakkalam
Sarppakkavu
isten to track no" 1 in the listenin- disk & or Pulluvan Paattu e0ample"
2. Udukku Paattukal/ Ayyappan Paattukal/ Sasthan Paattukal
dukku Paattu
These are songs which praise ord Ayyappa or Sasthan, related to festivals ceremonies in Mandalakaalam a period starting from around 6ovember till 7anuary!. /ost of these songs are sung when people undertake pilgrimage to Sa(arimala temple in Kerala. There are ceremonies called Maalayidal by taking lent for sometime by wearing black cloths related to these ceremonies. They invite the neighbors and friends for these ceremonies and the ceremonies might last for one day and night. They sit in a circle and sing these songs with dukku. dukku is a percussion instrument similar to %amru, an instrument used in 6orth 1ndia. #yyappan +aattukal is more prevalent in Kottayam district in Kerala. •
isten to track no" 2 in the listenin- disk & or Ayyappan Paattu e0ample"
3. Chaaran Paattukal (Vadakkan Paattukadhakal)
These are sung in northern parts of Kerala. These songs were transferred through generations by oral tradition. +eople sing these songs when they work in paddy fields. 8ne person leads the singing and others repeats the song. They develop the story line during singing. The language of songs are more related to the spoken language of northern Kerala. The topics would be emotions like veeram, premam, karunam, haasyam and ath(udham" The divisions of $haaran Paattukal are Puthooram Paattukal, Thacholy Paattukal both are stories related to certain royal families in northern Kerala!, Kanni Kadhakal and Veera Kadhakal " •
isten to track no" in the listenin- disk & or Vadakkan Paattu e0ample"
4. Pulayarude paattukal
Sung by the cast named 4 Pulayar*" The word )Pula* means the land used for agriculture, where they work. They sing different types of songs. Some are %& Kannal Kalam(adu to praise pregnant ladies9 Virunnu Paattu, 3anapathi Paattu, Kalasa Paattu to praise 3uru %haivam chief of tribal Gods! and other Goddesses and Poovaniyum Paattu to praise boys when they put Aran-attu Kolam a religious ritual in 6orthern part of Kerala!. •
isten to track no" 4 in the listenin- disk & or Pulayarude paattukal e0ample"
5. Manala Paattukal
The word Man-alam means marriage. There are different types of Man-alams like Kaathukuthu Man-alam celebrate when they pierce the ear lobe of girls to put ear rings!, Thirandu Man-alam when girls attain puberty! and Aran-attu Man-alam to make a boy eligible for agricultural labour!. Songs differ according to place and cast. Aniyaara Panthal is a song which they sing when they decorate Panthal where the ceremonies take place. They use an instrument called Para to sing the songs. These songs describe how to decorate the Panthal . Man-ala Paattukal are sung by a cast called Mavilar who lives in Kannur and Kasargaud districts of Kerala. •
isten to track no" 5 in the listenin- disk & or Man-alam paattu e0ample"
!. P"r Paattukal
This is a variety of songs which related to agriculture also called Krishi paattukal !. They sing these songs when they plant the rice seedlings in the paddy fields. They form two groups and sing these songs as a conversation between the groups as a competition. These songs are for pure entertainment. They might not convey a particular story in particular. The : Kadhakal means stories
lyrics might include local slangs and some times even obscene words. #. $ar%&'aalarude Paattukal
Karim(alar is a tribal group lives in Thalassery and Thalipparambu Taluks in Kerala. Their agricultural songs are called Vithukila Paattukal . They sing this song when they plough the field after sowing. They use certain stories from Vadakkan Paattukadhakal for the singing. 8ther songs sung by Karim(aalar are $heerum(a Paattu to praise the tribal Goddess %hevatha! named $heerum(a/$heerma" . heyya& Paad% Paattukal
Seen mostly in temples in 6orthern Kerala. These songs have been sung by Theyyam paadikal %heivam Paadikal ! by Kalamezhuthum Paattum traditional decoration and patterns made with ground rice and singing!. They believe that they are from the tradition of singers from heaven %eva-ayaka vrindham! and even Gods like their singing. They sings in temples during certain time period. 1n certain temples they sing for ; days. g%& Vettakkorumakan Paattu, Marakkala Paattu and 6akshi Sthuthi"
Theyyam •
isten to track nos" 7 8 9 in the listenin- disk &or Theyyam Paadi Paattukal e0ample" *. P""rakkal%
These songs are sung in temples, towards the end of a festival called Pooram in middle and northern part of Kerala. The sing and dance during the ceremonies and it lasts for < days. *e can see the tradition of Kalarippayattu /artial art form of Kerala! in these songs. There are different sections for the singing like #avanandana, Pooramaala, .amayanam Kadha, :harata Kadha, 3anapathy Paattu, An-am, Pada, Pam(attam and so on. There are different songs for each section. They sing it as groups and make it a competition Matsarakkaly!.
Poorakkali •
isten to track no" ; in the listenin- disk &or Poorakkali e0ample" 1+. h"tta& Paattukal
These are songs related to rituals in temples in middle and northern parts of Kerala related to Theyyattam and Thirayattam also called Theyyamthira" =ifferent communities like Vannan, Malayar, Mavilar, Pulayan and Paanar have different Thottam Paattukal" They sing to praise the servants of Gods called Amsa (hoothan-al like 3andharvan, #aa-am, :hootham and Mri-a who are servants of Gods such as :a-avathy, Kaali, $hamundi, Siva! Vaishnava Moorthikal" There are also Thottam Paattukal says about victory over wicked people or social evil. +eople believe that the dancers in Theyyam ot Theyyattam are transformed to Goddesses during Theyyattam" Vilithottam are sung to invite the Goddesses to human body " Polichu Paattukal are sung to praise the Goddesses in human form" g%& Maniyara unnan-athottam.
•
Thottam paattu isten to track no" ; in the listenin- disk &or Thottam Paattukal e0ample"
11. Manthravaadha Paattukal
4 Manthravaadham* means black magic. There are certain communities which consider 4 Manthravaadham* as their livelihood. $amples for these communities are Pulluvan, Mannan, Malayar and Kanisan" They use these songs for their rituals" <-! Tholuzhichil Paattu, Kannettu Paattu and Kadamthudi" 12. $"lkkal%ppaattu
4 Kol* means stick. +eople dance and sing with these sticks in a circle on the occasion of some festivals. #lmost all religions have their on type of Kolkkalippattu. Kolkkalippattu is also called Kam(adi or Koladi" /uslims with dance form called =ppana or Ara(anamuttu and )indus related to festivals like =nam sing these songs.
Kolkkali +>indus •
Kolkkali+Muslims!
isten to track nos" 1? a 8 1? ( in the listenin- disk &or Kolkkalippaattu in >indu and Muslim culture e0amples" 13. h%rvath%ra Paattukal
Thiruvaathira 8n Thiruvathira in the month of %hanu +accordin- to Malayalam calendar women sing these songs along with a traditional dance form called Thiruvathirakkali" 1t is considered as a ritual as well as an entertainment. Some of these songs are used for marriage and
also in the season of =nam. /ost of them are related to Kaikottikkali dance form with clapping!. •
isten to track no" 11 in the listenin- disk &or Thirvathira Paattukal e0amples" 14. ,rah&%n% Paattukal
Sung by cast called Pushpaka" This community is basically originated by :rahmin an upper cast in 1ndia! community. They prepare the garlands and flowers for the use in temples. They have the right to sing in temples. /ostly found in Kottayam and Thrissur district. 1n northern Kerala, they are known as Pappinikal" Pappinikal are almost e$tinct now. T hey decorate the place with white and red cloths, leaves of coconut tree, mango tree and banyan tree and they put kolam4 with ground rice. Singing starts in early morning till afternoon and again from evening till midnight. 15. Maapp%la Paattukal
#rabs spread the 1slamic principle while there was trade relation between 1ndia before :>> years mostly in 6orthern part of Kerala. Some of them got married to local people and settled down here and created Maappila community. Maappila Paattukal originated from these people. They created a special language called #rabic&/alayalam by mi$ing /alayalam and #rabic. Maappila paattukal were written in this new language. These songs were transferred through generations by oral tradition. -irst written book on Maappila paattu came out before ;>> years called Mohayidheen Maala. 1nitially the subjects were religious in nature describing the saints in 1slam. #round ?@>s /oyinkutty Vaidhyar changed the religious nature of Maappila Paattukal by writing songs related to love, revenge, separation and entertainment. #nother section of Maappila Paattukal written by /oyinkutty Vaidyar was called Kathu Paattukal . Kathu means letter. These were songs written for lovers as message to their partners. Generally Maappila Paattukal were sung during many occasions like marriage and delivery. =uring marriage, people dance with clapping to the songs called =ppana Paattukal a type of Maappila Paattukal . #nother type of Maappila Paattukal is called Mailan@i Paattu sung during marriage with =ppana dance.
=ppana •
isten to track no" 12 in the listenin- disk &or Mappila Paattukal e0amples"
; Kolam is traditional 1ndian decoration and patterns made with ground rice, particularly during festivals.
1!. Curry Paattukal
The subject of these songs are cooking. They e$plain cooking of certain vegetables or discuss about how to cultivate these vegetables and gardening. $amples are Aheera +aatu, Kumbala +aattu and /anga +aattu. 1#. Van-% Paattu "r Valla&kal% Paattu
+revalent in #lappu(ha, Kuttanad and #aranmula regions in Kerala. There are different types of Vanji +aattukal called Thanduvali +aattu and Thu(ha +aattu sung during they row the boats Vanji or Vallam!. They sung these songs during the boat races to keep all the people who row the boat in synchroni(ation. Vachu +aattukal are sung when they reduce the speed of the boat and Kuthu +aattukal are sung to tease other teams during boat race.
•
Van@i paattu isten to track no" 1 in the listenin- disk &or Van@i Paattukal e0amples"
1t is a sad fact that many of these genres are near e$tinction because many of the younger generation from these communities are not ready to take these folk tradition as their career. These days students are learning the folk songs only for the sake of competitions like Kerala State Bouth -estivals. # new trend evolved in past few years is the evolution of fusion bands like #vial, they use the folk songs and mi$ it with some other genres. *e can say that these fusion attempt is for purely entertainment, but the real purpose of folk songs or proper study related to these songs is missing in these attempts.There are also pure folk bands like Karinthalakkoottam formed by centre for folklore studies based in /ala in Thrissur, and Vayali "amboo band are trying to spread awareness about these culture and preserve these folk tradition. "ut the sad part is that the public who appreciate these bands becoming very less these days. #nother important aspect is that there is not much scientific studies related to folk music with regards to its value, theory, origin and its impact in the community. So it has become a real challenge to preserve these rich culture. -olk songs are an important part of our culture. 1t had a an important role in moulding the society in the current form. 1t speaks about human emotions, social values, and religion. *e can also study about history through this songs as there were no written proof about some historical events. 1t is becoming very hard to find out details of certain folk music forms these days. *e get only written information about most of the genres. #s these traditions are so precious to be preserved for ne$t generations, the government should take necessary measures to promote
these traditions by finding out people who sings these folk music traditionally and make these traditions available for the younger generations.
Bilio!"ap#$ 1) 4 #ammude Pandathe Paattukal* by =r. V. Vishnunamboothiri9 #ug 0>>C9 published by =A "ooks Kottayam. 2) )Maappilappaattu $harithravum Varthamaanavum* by V / Kutty9 6ov 0>>D9 published by State 1nstitute of Eanguages Kerala" 3) )Keralathile #aadan Paattukal oru Sama-ra Padanam* by =r. Sasidharan Klari9 /ay 0>>9 +ublished by 8live publications. 4) )Theyyam Thirakalude Thottam Paattukal* (y =r. /. V. Vishnunamboothiri9 /arch 0>>C9 published by Aurrent "ooks. 5) )#aadan Kalakal #aadan Paattukal* by =r. V Vishnunamboothiri !) 4 Keralathile #aadan San-eetham* by =r. V Vishnunamboothiri #) )Musical >erita-e o& 'ndia* by /anorama Sharma
