Teejan Bai

Infobox actor


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name = Teejan Bai
birthdate = birth date and age|1956|4|24
location = Ganiyari village, Chhattisgarh
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occupation = Pandavani Folk Singer
spouse = Tukka Ram
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awards = Padma Bhushan 2003
Padma Shri 1988
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 1995

Teejan Bai (born 1956) is an exponent of Pandavani, a traditional performing art form, from Chhattisgarh, in which she enacts tales from the Mahabharata, with musical accompaniments.

Biography

Early life

Teejan Bai was born in April 24, 1956, in village Ganiyari, 14 km north of Bhilai, to Chunuk Lal Pardhi and his wife Sukhwati [ [http://deepblueink.com/writing/profiles/pandavani.htm Pandavani] ] .

The eldest among her five siblings, at an early age, Teejan Bai, heard her maternal grandfather, Brijlal Pradhi, recite Mahabharata written by Chattisgarhi writer, Sabal Sinh Chauhan in Chattisgarhi Hindi, she instantly took a liking of it and soon memorized much of it, and later trained informally under Umed Singh Deshmukh.

Career

At age 13, gave her first public performance in a neighbouring village, Chandrakhuri (Durg) for Rs 10., singing in the "Kapalik shaili" (style) of 'Pandavani', a first time for a woman, as traditionally women used to sing in the "Vedamati", the sitting style. Contrary to the tradition, Teejan Bai performed standing singing out loud in her typical guttral voice and unmistakable verve, entering what was till now, a male bastion [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2004/12/13/stories/2004121301150400.htm The Hindu, 13 December, 2004] ] .

Within a short time, she became known in neighbouring villages and invitations poured to perform at special occasions and festivals.

Her big-break came, when Habib Tanvir, a famous theatre personality from Madhya Pradesh, noticed her talent, and she was called to perform for then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. There was no turning back from then on, in-time she received national and international recognition, a Padma Shri in 1988 [ [http://www.ahmedabad.com/incity/2k/feb/23bai.htm Ahmedabad,February 23, 2000] ] , Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1995, and Padma Bhushan in 2003.

Beginning in the 80s, she travelled all over the world as a cultural ambassador, to countries as far as England, France, Switzerland, Germany, Turkey, Tunisia, Malta, Cyprus, Romania and Mauritius [ [http://www.rediff.com/style/dec/05teejan.htm Teejan Bai, Rediff.com] ] .

Today she continues to enthralled audiences, the world over with her unique folk singing and her powerful voice; and passing on her singing to the younger generation.

Personal life

Though she was married at 12, she was ostracised by the community, the 'Pardhi' tribe, for singing Pandavani, being a woman. She built herself a small hut and started living on her own, borrowing utensils and food from neighbours, yet never left her singing, which eventually paid off for her. [ [http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/11/26/stories/2005112605610300.htm The Hindu, Nov 26 2005] ] . She never went to her first husband's home and later split. In the following years, she was married twice times over, though none of her marriages succeeded. Later she fell in love with Tukka Ram, a a former harmonium player in her troupe, and they had three children.

Today she lives with her fourth husband, Tukka Ram, her five children, in Bhilai, where she employed at the Bhilai Steel Plant, though she travels all over the world most of time, for her performances. She is also a grandmother now.

Performance style

Pandavani, literally means stories of Pandavas, the legendary brothers of Mahabharat, and involves enacting and singing with instrumental accompaniment an ektara or a "tambura" in one hand and sometimes a "kartal" in another. Interestingly, as the performance progresses, the tambura becomes her only prop during her performances, sometimes she uses it to personify a "gada", mace of Arjun, or at times his bow or chariot, while others it becomes the hair of queen Draupadi, allowing her to play various character with effective ease and candour. [ [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021116/cth2.htm Teejan Bai performance, The Tribune, November 16, 2002] ] . Her acclaimed performances are of, Draupadi cheerharan, Dushasana Vadh and Mahabharat Yudh, between Bhishma and Arjun.

Awards

* 1988 Padma Shri
* 1995 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award [ [http://www.sangeetnatak.com/programmes_recognition&honours_ofmdt.html Sangeet Natak Akademi Award winners] ]
* 2003 Hon. D. Litt, Bilaspur University [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/229046.cms The Times of India, 12 Oct 2003] ]
* 2003 Padma Bhushan [ [http://india.gov.in/myindia/padmabhushan_awards_list1.php Indian government Padma Awards] ]

References

ee also

* Music of Chhattisgarh

External links

* [http://www.rediff.com/style/dec/05teejan.htm Teejan Bai, a profile on her narration of the Mahabharata]
* [http://www.kamat.com/database/pictures/5313.htm Portrait of Teejan Bai at Kamat.com]