Burra katha - Revision history

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			{{Short description\|Oral storytelling technique in the Katha tradition}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=June 2019}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=June 2019}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=June 2019}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=June 2019}}
	~~{{about\|an oral storytelling technique\|film\|Burra Katha (film)}}~~
	~~[[File:India village musicians.jpg\|thumbnail\|Ancient Jangam Folk performers]]~~
	'''Burra Katha''', also spelled Burrakatha, is an [[oral storytelling]] technique in the [[Jangam\|Jangam Katha]] tradition, performed in villages of [[Andhra Pradesh]]. The troupe consists of one main performer and two co-performers. It is a narrative entertainment that consists of prayers, solo drama, dance, songs, poems and jokes. The topic will be either a [[Hindu]] mythological story ([[Jangam\|Jangam Katha]]) or a contemporary social issue.<ref>{{cite web \| title = Burrakatha loses sheen sans patronage\| url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-14/visakhapatnam/36332535_1_artistes-burrakatha-art-form \| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131114014507/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-14/visakhapatnam/36332535_1_artistes-burrakatha-art-form \| url-status = dead \| archive-date = 14 November 2013 \|date=14 January 2013\| accessdate = 2013-09-02
	~~\| newspaper = [[The Times of India]] }}</ref>~~

	==~~Origin~~==		{{More citations needed\|date=March 2025}}{{about\|an oral storytelling technique\|film\|Burra Katha (film)}}
	The ~~great Burra - Katha was developed~~ in ~~Guntur district around 1942 with~~ the ~~aim of propagating political ideas among illiterate masses in villages~~.<ref>{{~~Cite~~ book\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=~~g4U5AAAAIAAJ~~\|~~title~~=~~Vidya Bharathi~~\|~~last~~=~~Lectures~~\|~~first~~=~~Bangalore University Dept of Publications and Extension~~\|~~date~~=~~1977-01-01~~\|~~language~~=en}}</ref>		[[File:India village musicians.jpg\|thumbnail\|Ancient [[Jangam]] Folk performers]]
			'''Burra Katha''' or Burrakatha, is an [[oral storytelling]] technique in the [[Jangam\|Jangam Katha]] tradition, performed in the villages of [[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Telangana]] in India. It is performed by a troupe consisting of one main performer and two co-performers, and is a narrative form of entertainment that consists of prayers, solo drama, dance, songs, poems and jokes. The performance is on the topic of either a [[Hindu]] Historical story ([[Jangam\|Jangam Katha]]) or a contemporary social issue.<ref>{{cite web \| title = Burrakatha loses sheen sans patronage\| url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/Burrakatha-loses-sheen-sans-patronage/articleshow/18012802.cms \| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131114014507/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-14/visakhapatnam/36332535_1_artistes-burrakatha-art-form \| url-status = live \| archive-date = 14 November 2013 \|date=14 January 2013\| access-date = 2013-09-02
			\| newspaper = [[The Times of India]] }}</ref> It became a popular art form during the [[Telangana Rebellion]] in the early 1930-1950s.<ref>{{cite book\|title=The Lost Generation: Chronicling India's Dying Professions\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gMsdCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT64\|author=Nidhi Dugar Kundalia\|publisher=Random House India\|pages=63–65\|year=2015\|isbn=9788184007763\|accessdate=17 October 2021}}</ref>

	==Etymology==		==Etymology==
	"Burra" ~~is referred~~ to [[Tanpura\|tambura]], a musical string instrument with a hollow shell. "Katha" means story.{{Citation ~~Needed~~\|date=~~December 2018~~}}		"Burra" refers to the [[Tanpura\|tambura]], a musical string instrument with a hollow shell. "Katha" means story.{{Citation needed\|date=June 2025}}

	~~<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Burrakatha.jpg\|thumb\|right\|225px\|Burrakatha photo from Vepachedu research foundation]] -->~~		"Burra" means "brain" in the [[Telugu language\|Telugu]] language, as the shell of the tambura resembles a [[human skull]].{{Cn\|date=March 2025}} The shell may be made of baked clay, dried pumpkin, or brass and copper.{{Cn\|date=March 2025}} The instrument looks similar to a [[veena]] and the performer can pull and press strings to produce different musical sounds.
	Burra means ~~a skull~~ in [[Telugu language\|Telugu]]~~. The~~ shell resembles a [[human skull]]. ~~It is~~ made of baked clay or dried pumpkin, or of brass and copper. The instrument looks ~~very~~ similar to [[veena]] and the performer can pull and press strings to produce ~~voices and get music~~.

	==History==		==History==
	~~Burrakatha started~~ as devotional songs of nomadic people and became a popular art form. ~~It is played on radio and TV regularly in [[Andhra Pradesh]]. It is a 20th-century name for~~ the ~~theater~~ show known as [[Jangam]] Katha. The [[jangam\|jangams lingayats]] were wandering minstrels who worshiped and sang of [[Shiva\|Lord Siva]]. Two performers participated in these plays: the storyteller and his wife. With societal and cultural changes, ~~the~~ secular ~~aspect was~~ incorporated into this form. The modern form has three performers of any gender.{{~~Citation Needed~~\|date=~~December 2018~~}}		Burra Katha began as the devotional songs of nomadic people, and later became a popular art form.{{Cn\|date=March 2025}} Initially, the show was known as [[Jangam]] Katha.{{Cn\|date=March 2025}} The [[jangam\|jangams lingayats]] were wandering minstrels who worshiped and sang of [[Shiva\|Lord Siva]]. Two performers participated in these plays: the storyteller and his wife.{{Cn\|date=March 2025}} With societal and cultural changes, secular aspects were incorporated into this form. The modern form has three performers of any gender.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web \|title=Burrakatha \|url=https://www.vepachedu.org/burrakatha.htm \|access-date=2023-11-10 \|website=www.vepachedu.org}}</ref>

	Popular Hindu artists were Pendyala Venkateswarrao, Sunkara Sri Krishna Madhava Rao, Paruchuri Ramakotayya, Sirivisetti Subbarao, Kosuri Punnayya, Govardhana, Kakumanu Subbarao, Davuluru, Chintalal Suryanarayana, Budagajangala mote papaiah, Budagajangala mote kullayappa, Budagajangala mote ramalingam, etc. ~~Women also formed groups, e~~.g.~~, Moturi Udayam, Chintala Koteswaramma, Mahankali Lakshmi, Sridevi sisters, etc. Popular non~~-~~Hindu artists are Abraham Bhagavatar, Manohara Kavi, Khader Khan Sahib, Shaik Nazar etc.~~		==Modern form==
			The modern form of Burra Katha was developed in [[Guntur district\|Guntur]] around 1942 with the aim of propagating political ideas among illiterate masses in villages.<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Lectures \|first=Bangalore University Dept of Publications and Extension \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g4U5AAAAIAAJ \|title=Vidya Bharathi \|date=1977-01-01 \|language=en}}</ref>

	Shaik Nazar ~~popularized this~~ by performing on ~~various~~ contemporary issues ~~at that time~~ and ~~gained people's recognition. He~~ is ~~popularly~~ known as "Father of Burrakatha."		Shaik Nazar publicized Burra Katha by performing on contemporary issues and is known as "Father of Burrakatha."{{Cn\|date=March 2025}}

	=~~=Modern form==~~		Burra Katha is regularly performed on radio and TV in the state of [[Andhra Pradesh]].{{Cn\|date=March 2025}} The main storyteller (''kathakudu'') narrates the story, plays the tambura and dances to music. He also wears a metal ring called an ''andelu'' on his right thumb and holds another ring in his other hand, and frequently strikes them together as a form of percussion. The co-performers play ''gummeta'' (also called ''dakki'' or ''budike''), which are earthen drums with two heads. All three performers (or only the ''kathakadu'') wear anklets (also called as ''gajjelu''), which add to the music when they dance.<ref name=":0" /> [[File:Burrakatha Artists in Telangana Jateeya Samaikyatha Vajrotsavalu (17 September 2022) 03.jpg\|thumb\|Burrakatha Artists in Telangana Jateeya Samaikyatha Vajrotsavalu (17 September 2022)]]
	The main storyteller (kathakudu) narrates the story~~. He~~ plays tambura and dances to music. He also wears a metal ring called an andelu on his right thumb, holds another ring in his other hand and ~~adds more music by colliding~~ them ~~frequently~~. The co-performers ~~plays~~ gummeta (also called dakki or budike), earthen drums with two heads. All three or only the kathakadu wear anklets (also called as gajjelu), which add ~~even more~~ music when they dance.

	The right ~~side performer~~ (hasyaka, meaning joker) ~~acts as a joker and cracks satires~~ and ~~jokes~~. The left ~~side performer~~ (rajakiya, meaning politician) acts as ~~someone who knows~~ worldly ~~ways~~ and talks about politics and social issues. The main performer and co-performers constantly ~~was~~ address each other. The co-performers interrupt the kathakudu with doubts, and they sometimes add emphasis to the main events in the story with ~~short words similar to "Wow!" "Aha!" and "That is it~~."		The performer on the right (''hasyaka'', meaning "joker") makes jokes and satirical comments. The performer on the left (''rajakiya'', meaning "politician") acts as a worldly character and talks about politics and social issues. The main performer and co-performers constantly address each other. The co-performers interrupt the ''kathakudu'' with doubts, and they sometimes add emphasis to the main events in the story with exclamations.{{Cn\|date=March 2025}}

	Whenever the main performer sings a song, he or she starts with "vinara veera kumara veera gadha vinara" followed by the co-performers singing "tandhana tane tandhana na." It is also called 'tandana katha.'		Whenever the main performer sings a song, he or she starts with "''vinara veera kumara veera gadha vinara''" followed by the co-performers singing "''tandhana tane tandhana na''." It is also called "''tandana katha''."{{Cn\|date=March 2025}}

	==Significance==		==Significance==
	Burra katha was a pastime ~~event in villages~~. It is ~~seen even now~~ during [[Navratri\|Dussehra]] or [[Sankranti]] festival seasons to describe ~~events in~~ epics like [[Ramayan]] and [[Mahabharat]] ~~and also some of best~~ and moral stories ~~of kings~~ like kambojaraju katha, chinnamma katha, muggurumoratila katha~~, etc~~.{{Citation Needed\|date=February 2019}}		Burra katha was a village pastime, but the cultural importance of this form has diminished.<ref>{{Cite news \|date=2013-01-14 \|title=Burrakatha loses sheen sans patronage \|work=The Times of India \|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/burrakatha-loses-sheen-sans-patronage/articleshow/18012802.cms \|access-date=2023-11-10 \|issn=0971-8257}}</ref> It is currently performed during [[Navratri\|Dussehra]] or [[Sankranti]] festival seasons to describe epics like [[Ramayan]] and [[Mahabharat]] and moral stories like kambojaraju katha, chinnamma katha, or muggurumoratila katha.{{Citation Needed\|date=February 2019}}

	~~==Present==~~
	~~Burrakatha tellers are called as budagajangalu. Internet and movies play a major role in modern life.~~
	~~That's why the burrakathas are not being seen and no one is there to develop this and improve the art.~~
	~~In past these burrakatha tellers were important in the villages; now there is no response for their art.~~

	So these burrakatha tellers left their traditional art and have become beggars or day labourers. Even in these modern times, there are no educated people in this tribe. They don't have caste certificates for developing their tribe.

	~~[[Daroji Eramma]] was a performer of Burra katha from [[Karnataka]].~~

	==See also==		==See also==

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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2019}}
{{about|an oral storytelling technique|film|Burra Katha (film)}}
[[File:India village musicians.jpg|thumbnail|Ancient Jangam Folk performers]]
'''Burra Katha''', also spelled Burrakatha, is an [[oral storytelling]] technique in the [[Jangam|Jangam Katha]] tradition, performed in villages of [[Andhra Pradesh]]. The troupe consists of one main performer and two co-performers. It is a narrative entertainment that consists of prayers, solo drama, dance, songs, poems and jokes. The topic will be either a [[Hindu]] mythological story ([[Jangam|Jangam Katha]]) or a contemporary social issue.<ref>{{cite web | title = Burrakatha loses sheen sans patronage| url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-14/visakhapatnam/36332535_1_artistes-burrakatha-art-form | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131114014507/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-01-14/visakhapatnam/36332535_1_artistes-burrakatha-art-form | url-status = dead | archive-date = 14 November 2013 |date=14 January 2013| accessdate = 2013-09-02
| newspaper = [[The Times of India]] }}</ref>

==Origin==
The great Burra - Katha was developed in Guntur district around 1942 with the aim of propagating political ideas among illiterate masses in villages.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g4U5AAAAIAAJ|title=Vidya Bharathi|last=Lectures|first=Bangalore University Dept of Publications and Extension|date=1977-01-01|language=en}}</ref>

==Etymology==
"Burra" is referred to [[Tanpura|tambura]], a musical string instrument with a hollow shell. "Katha" means story.{{Citation Needed|date=December 2018}}


Burra means a skull in [[Telugu language|Telugu]]. The shell resembles a [[human skull]]. It is made of baked clay or dried pumpkin, or of brass and copper. The instrument looks very similar to [[veena]] and the performer can pull and press strings to produce voices and get music.

==History==
Burrakatha started as devotional songs of nomadic people and became a popular art form. It is played on radio and TV regularly in [[Andhra Pradesh]]. It is a 20th-century name for the theater show known as [[Jangam]] Katha. The [[jangam|jangams lingayats]] were wandering minstrels who worshiped and sang of [[Shiva|Lord Siva]]. Two performers participated in these plays: the storyteller and his wife. With societal and cultural changes, the secular aspect was incorporated into this form. The modern form has three performers of any gender.{{Citation Needed|date=December 2018}}

Popular Hindu artists were Pendyala Venkateswarrao, Sunkara Sri Krishna Madhava Rao, Paruchuri Ramakotayya, Sirivisetti Subbarao, Kosuri Punnayya, Govardhana, Kakumanu Subbarao, Davuluru, Chintalal Suryanarayana, Budagajangala mote papaiah, Budagajangala mote kullayappa, Budagajangala mote ramalingam, etc. Women also formed groups, e.g., Moturi Udayam, Chintala Koteswaramma, Mahankali Lakshmi, Sridevi sisters, etc. Popular non-Hindu artists are Abraham Bhagavatar, Manohara Kavi, Khader Khan Sahib, Shaik Nazar etc.

Shaik Nazar popularized this by performing on various contemporary issues at that time and gained people's recognition. He is popularly known as "Father of Burrakatha."

==Modern form==
The main storyteller (kathakudu) narrates the story. He plays tambura and dances to music. He also wears a metal ring called an andelu on his right thumb, holds another ring in his other hand and adds more music by colliding them frequently. The co-performers plays gummeta (also called dakki or budike), earthen drums with two heads. All three or only the kathakadu wear anklets (also called as gajjelu), which add even more music when they dance.

The right side performer (hasyaka, meaning joker) acts as a joker and cracks satires and jokes. The left side performer (rajakiya, meaning politician) acts as someone who knows worldly ways and talks about politics and social issues. The main performer and co-performers constantly was address each other. The co-performers interrupt the kathakudu with doubts, and they sometimes add emphasis to the main events in the story with short words similar to "Wow!" "Aha!" and "That is it."

Whenever the main performer sings a song, he or she starts with "vinara veera kumara veera gadha vinara" followed by the co-performers singing "tandhana tane tandhana na." It is also called 'tandana katha.'

==Significance==
Burra katha was a pastime event in villages. It is seen even now during [[Navratri|Dussehra]] or [[Sankranti]] festival seasons to describe events in epics like [[Ramayan]] and [[Mahabharat]] and also some of best and moral stories of kings like kambojaraju katha, chinnamma katha, muggurumoratila katha, etc.{{Citation Needed|date=February 2019}}

==Present==
Burrakatha tellers are called as budagajangalu. Internet and movies play a major role in modern life.
That's why the burrakathas are not being seen and no one is there to develop this and improve the art.
In past these burrakatha tellers were important in the villages; now there is no response for their art.

So these burrakatha tellers left their traditional art and have become beggars or day labourers. Even in these modern times, there are no educated people in this tribe. They don't have caste certificates for developing their tribe.

[[Daroji Eramma]] was a performer of Burra katha from [[Karnataka]].

==See also==
* [[Jangam]]
* [[Kirtan]]
* [[Harikatha]]
* [[Oggu Katha]]
* [[Pravachan]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|author=Kajal Kumar Das|title=Burrakatha of Andhra Pradesh|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cM8OAAAAIAAJ|year=1980|publisher=Indian Institute of Mass Communication}}
* {{cite book|author=Martin Banham|title=The Cambridge Guide to Theatre|url=https://archive.org/details/cambridgeguideto0000banh|url-access=registration|year=1995|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-43437-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/cambridgeguideto0000banh/page/146 146]}}
* {{cite book|author=Manohar Laxman Varadpande|title=History of Indian Theatre|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ZrjC24PuDQC&pg=PA92|year=1992|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-278-9|pages=92–93}}
* {{cite book|author=Molly Kaushal|title=Chanted narratives: the living "katha-vachana" tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zf1jAAAAMAAJ|year=2001|publisher=Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts|isbn=978-81-246-0182-2|pages=123–128}}

==External links==
*[[Jangam|Ancient Jangam Katha]]
*[http://www.vepachedu.org/burrakatha.htm Burrakatha origins]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060517140214/http://www.nrityanjali.org/th_bur.asp Burrakatha description]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071013224502/http://andhraguyz.com/My_Andhra/p2_articleid/987 Jangam Katha as art]
*[http://www.carnatica.net/harikatha1.htm Story telling techniques in south India]

[[Category:Drama]]
[[Category:Hindu music]]
[[Category:Indian styles of music]]
[[Category:Culture of Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Hindu traditions]]
[[Category:Storytelling]]
[[Category:Performing arts in India]]