Avenues of professional reward opening up for artistes from tribal communities in Kerala

Professional prospects are expanding for musicians hailing from tribal communities in Kerala, thanks to increased awareness about safeguarding their copyright and earning royalties from their creations, according to non-governmental organisations working in the field. For instance, Nanjiamma from Attappadi in Palakkad, a National Film Award-winning female playback singer, is an exception to the norm.

Independent festivals and archival groups are offering these artists performance opportunities without interference, while young musicians are blending traditional rhythms with contemporary styles like jazz. Eight artistes from Wayanad, four each from the Paniya and Kattunaika communities, participated in a recent residential camp organised by the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) in Kolkata, West Bengal.

The five-day program, titled 'Living Roots Originals', was held from August 3 and focused on teaching the participants about professional aspects of songwriting, composing, and recording, including the importance of copyright and royalties. K. Prasad, a community lyricist, highlighted the significance of understanding legal rights related to musical creations and the monetisation process on platforms like YouTube.

All 25 attendees from eight communities in five states will be enrolled at the IPRS, and they will have ownership and rights to the songs they create. Sruthin Lal, executive director of ARPO, emphasised the need to focus on historically marginalised communities to ensure they receive proper livelihood from their cultural heritage.