Pride and Patrimony

Padmashri Anwar Khan Manganiyar is breathing life into Marwar's rich folk music

- TEJ PRAKASH BHARDWAJ

There is a hush in the audience as Ustad Anwar Khan Manganiyar takes centre stage in his trademark colourful Rajasthani pagdi (turban) complementing his spotless white kurta. The maestro's perfect rendition of Kesariya Balam pierces the night sky. His deep, rusty voice carries the rawness of Marwar; raw enough to make 300-odd Punjabis forget the boundaries of language and geography at the recently held Sacred Amritsar festival. Kesariya Balam soon fuses into the high-pitched Nimbooda Nimbooda almost symbolic of the transition of Manganiyar strains into the mainstream Bollywood music.

Khan, a Padmashri awardee, belongs to the Manganiyar community of western Rajasthan popular for their folk music and rustic voice.

They perform in groups of five to six, their catchy tunes and signature spontaneity, draw the listeners, keeping them hooked to every beat.