Parvathy Baul
Parvathy Baul is a
She is married to Ravi Gopalan Nair, a noted Pava Kathakali glove puppet artist, and is based in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, since 1997, where she also runs, "Ektara Baul Sangeetha Kalari" a school for Baul music.
Early life and background
Parvathy Baul was born in 1975 or 1976
In her early years, she learnt
Career
Though she started performing in 1995, in 1997 she came to Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, to learn about local spiritual and theatre traditions. Here she met Ravi Gopalan Nair, an Andi Pandaram – a traditional puppeteer from Kerala, who also makes glove puppets or Pava Kathakali.[7] She learnt Grotowski technique used in theatre for him, and in 2000 travelled with him to Bread and Puppet Theater in Vermont, US to study with creator Peter Schumann, known for incorporating puppetry, live-art into theatre performances.[8] Prior to this they worked with the theatre company for five months during Seven Basic Needs exhibition and performances at Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany,[9] In Thiruvananthapuram, she also met Abdul Salam, a Muslim fakir kalandar, who became her guru, with him she found her musical calling and who taught her about the spiritual meaning of the tradition.[1]
Thereafter, in 2001, she decided to devote full-time to Baul tradition, and started performing Baul music, also playing ektara and a duggi as accompanying musical instruments, and the tinkling chilambu nupur metallic anklets. She performs mystic songs both from tradition Baul repertoire and her own doha couplets. She uses elements of theatre and cantastoria or sung stories into her performances by acting out the lyrics or at times adding explanatory speeches in English. Inspired by pattachitra, scroll painters and traditional story-tellers of Bengal, she adds visual elements to performance through painted backdrops.[1][2][3] In some her performances, inspired by a work with Schumann, she paints large canvases along with her singing, illustrating the themes of her songs as a live performance art.[9]
In late 1990s, she married her teacher Ravi Gopalan Nair, and has been living in Thiruvananthapuram for the last 15 years. She also runs an "Ektara Baul Sangeetha Kalari", a Baul music
In 2005, she published Songs of the Great Soul, a book about her journey into the Baul tradition, provides a rare insight into an educated woman's foray into the tradition, which has been male preserve and mostly flourished in rural areas, where women were often caregivers and companions to Bauls at ashrams, few took to singing and the itinerant lifestyle.[11]
In February 2019, she was conferred Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, by Government of India for her contribution to the ancient Baul tradition. She is now creating a dedicated learning center for Baul tradition in Bengal.
Over the years, she performed at various concerts all over India and other countries, including at Ruhaniyat – The All India Sufi & Mystic Music Festival and One Billion Rising.[12][13][14]
Supporting the Baul Tradition
In 2017, Parvathy Baul founded Sanatan Siddhashram in Bhirbum, West Bengal, a center aiming to foster the Baul tradition.[15]
Works
- Baul, Parvathy (2005). Song of the Great Soul: An Introduction to the Baul Path. Ekatara Baul Sangeetha Kalari.
Filmography
- Neeravam 2021 (Malayalam movie)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Bengal folk meets Kerala's spirituality in Parvathy Baul's music". CNN-IBN. 9 November 2012. Archived from the original on 14 February 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ a b c Academy, Himalayan (January–March 2013). "Sacred Arts: Poetess and Minstrel, Parvathy Baul Lives and Dances in her Beloved's Divine Heart". Hinduism Today Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ a b c K.K. Gopalakrishnan (25 December 2005). "A storyteller on a mission". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ "Baul is not just music, it's a way of life: Parvathy Baul". The Times of India. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ "Blissfully Baul". 27 September 2006. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ a b Bhawani Cheerath (26 September 2008). "Baul music charts mental routes". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ a b "Exceptional skill, one couple". The Hindu. 17 March 2006. Archived from the original on 23 November 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ Nagarajan, Saraswathy (14 September 2012). "Play of puppets". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ ISBN 0-472-06954-3.
- ^ "Tantidhatri". Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ISBN 978-0-19-977361-9.
- ^ "A treat for Sufi music lovers". The Times of India. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ Subhra Mazumdar (3 February 2014). "Rise4Justice Blog: India: Parvathy Baul Sings For Love And Peace". One Billion Rising For Justice. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ^ "Parvathy Baul brings exhilarating spiritual music to Vancouver". Vancouver Observer. 2 August 2011. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- "Parvathy Baul Interview". Sufi Journal.