‘Konnakkol is a language that anyone can speak’

We’ve heard of trollers creating memes about artistes and musicians, but what could have compelled konnakkol artiste Somashekar Jois to create memes himself and join the troll brigade? “I get rather miffed when people are able to understand Western concepts like beatboxing or are aware of what vocal percussion is, but mispronounce Indian art forms like konnakkol. I started creating memes to convey my annoyance or intent to educate people about it, also because it will help me reach out to different audiences,” he clarifies.

This is, however, just the tip of the ice berg. “Did you know that beatboxing — that’s barely 50 years old — is currently more popular in India than konnakkol that’s been around for 5,000 years? That’s why I’ve dedicated my life towards reviving this artform’s popularity,” says the vidwan. To achieve this, he’s made use of technology in other unique ways. He takes online classes for students worldwide and if he’s travelling, he shares videos from the whichever part of the world he is in, on YouTube. 

He says, “Another way of using technology to create awareness is through apps like Talking Parrot and Talking Tom. By using apps that the general public do, my reach is farther and wider. Small children are able to associate with it too.” Interestingly, Somashekar has created konnakkol compositions using phrases or words from popular movies like Kabali and Baahubali too! “For time immemorial, there has been an onslaught on Indian tradition and culture. In that course, we have lost a lot of information and practices, out of which konnakkol is one. The least I can do is help people recognise it the correct way,” he states.

Stressing that no art form should ever be restricted to a group of people, 35-year-old Somashekar shares, “Unfortunately, we’re still in the belief that konnakkol is only for Carnatic musicians but that’s not true — it’s a language that anyone can speak. No artform is meant to be niche. Just like the swaraksharas sa re ga ma pa dha ni sa are used to communicate melodies or ragas, percussive syllables such as tha dhi thom nam can be used as means of communication — whether you’re a vocalist, mridangam player, percussionist, audio engineer or dancer.”

According to him, it’s not always about taking from art; giving back to it is equally important. To achieve this, the vidwan started an institution called World Konnakkol Academy to impart training to people. Ranging across age groups and ethnicities, the institution sees students from countries like Chile, Uruguay, Argentina and Mexico coming to learn konnakkol. “That’s because they don’t consider it a hobby or a career option but are truly passionate about it,” he notes. “Just by taking up artforms like konnakkol that are not as mainstream or ‘lucrative’ as others, it doesn’t mean you’re losing out. Achieving name, fame and money is not what art is about; it transcends all that and enriches and elevates,” he signs off.