La FOLK

Traditional Tamil folk songs and instruments such as the naadhaswaram (a wind instrument similar to a shehnai) and thavil (barrel-shaped drums) and a smooth and inconspicuous mix of guitar riffs and drums — that’s La Pongal. The last six months have put the collective on the indie map as “a project to watch out for”. La Pongal is part of Coke Studio @ MTV Season 2 and has collaborated with popular singer Usha Uthup. Their self-titled debut album is out and the outfit is travelling to Malaysia to promote it. Besides,a four-city India tour is on the cards.

“I have been researching on folk music for years now,and once when I was listening to Tamil folk music,I could hear guitar patterns and bass lines on it. I knew they would sound perfect together,” says Darbuka Siva,the founder of La Pongal. The 30-year-old bassist insists it’s not a band since the structure doesn’t follow conventional band basics — Siva hand-picks folk artistes from the interiors of Tamil Nadu as well as contemporary artistes and puts them together to make the La Pongal music. More often than not,Siva himself remains a permanent fixture on the stage during La Pongal’s performances.

During a telephonic conversation from Chennai,Siva keeps reiterating that the sound that the artistes produce is not fusion or jugalbandi. “I am not a fan of jugalbandi. Our music is about two cultures coming together and giving each other space,without one trying to overtake the other,” he explains.

Four members of La Pongal are part of the Coke Studio episode – Siva on the bass,Sekhar on naadhaswaram,Pichaikani on thavil and Anthony Daasan on the vocals. One of the La Pongal songs,Vandiyila Nelluvarum,has been featured in the episode,which has been produced by Shantanu Moitra. “It’s a traditional harvest song that the farmers sing as they take their produce to the landlords — it’s sarcastic in a way,” says Siva. The song is a contemporary upbeat number,similar to Afro-Cuban grooves but still very Tamil folk in nature.

Thirty five-year-old Daasan,a folk artiste from Reddypalayam,a small town in Tanjore,is not just La Pongal’s vocalist. He dances on stage,acts,juggles,does acrobatics and even plays a few instruments — call him the performer,instead. Since he only speaks in Tamil,Siva moderated the conversation. “I have been a folk artiste ever since I could walk,it was in the family. There are so many artistes who have made it big,but for me,it’s the art form that’s the winner. I am on the show because of Tamil folk music,not because I am Anthony Daasan,” he says,dripping with modesty. “The way I perform in villages is the way I perform everywhere,” he adds.

Daasan’s journey to Mumbai and jamming with Uthup,he says,are the high points of a musician’s life that he cherishes.

In two weeks,Siva along with other members of La Pongal,will travel to Malaysia to promote their 11-track debut album,also titled La Pongal. “We will be touring major Indian cities such as Mumbai and Delhi,too,in a month’s time,” concludes Siva.