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A Visual Anthropologist

Dr.V.SREENIVASAMURTHY – Visual anthropologist

A man stands by a lake, holding a Panasonic video camera on a tripod, with greenery and a temple in the background.

Dr. V. Sreenivasamurthy, popularly known as Sirigandha Sreenivasamurthy in Karnataka, India. He is known as Folk & Tribal encyclopedia of Karnataka. By profession a photographer & cinematographer turned in to Karnataka’s first visual anthropologist. A unique and rare folklorist and culture lover from the land of Kannada. He is credited with introducing the cultural, social and economic life of the common people of Karnataka in thousands of his documentaries and episodes. For the past 50 years, he has been introducing the Karnataka cultural world, especially the folklore and tribes to the country and abroad through his camera eye and brief writings.

Dr.Sreenivasamurthy, is well versed with Karnataka folklore & tribes their arts, artists and their lives very closely.  Kannada University, Hampi awarded the D.Litt (Doctorate) to Sreenivasamurthy for his thesis on ‘Documentation of Folk and Tribal Livelihoods: Challenges and Possibilities (With reference to Visual Media). So far he has written more than 2000 short manuscripts about arts and artists. He has produced and documented more than 2600 folk, tribes, culture & heritage related documentaries since 1977. (Film formats: 35mm, 16mm, 8mm, super 8mm and Video formats: low band b/w & color video, high band video, beta, DVC pro, mini DVC and Digital formats:). He was the first to bring to light the hundreds of folk and tribal arts & artists of karnataka which were invisible from decades.

He has been mentoring countless folklore & tribal study students doing higher studies & Ph.D. As an expert on Karnataka folklore and tribal culture. He is also rendering honourable service to many educational institutions and universities. He has received hundreds of honours and awards including the Karnataka Folk Academy Award. He travelled around USA, Europe and other countries and recorded the life of the people there in his works.

Inspiration and Guidance

In 1979 Nadoja H.L. Nagegowda has introduced Mr.V. Sreenivasamurthy to the field of folklore & tribes. It is his encouragement and inspiration, he is able to study, research and collect the tradition of folk and tribes of Karnataka and also document the same through photography and videography. His encouragement made it possible for him to continue in the same field. Apart from this he has broadened his experience by working alongside scholars of folk and artists like Sri Huchchappa Master of Sagara, Dr. S.K. Karim Khan, Dr. Hi.Chi. Boralingaih, Dr. A.S. Prabhakara, Dr. G. S. Paramashivaiah, Dr. Siddalingaiah, Sri G. Narayana, Dr. H.J. Lakkappa Gowda, Dr. Kalegowda Nagavara, Sri B. Takappa, Sri Mudenuru Sanganna, Sri. Go.Ru. Channabasappa, Dr. Chakkere Shivashankar, Sri Banandur Kempaiah, Dr. Krishnamurthy Hanur and some other famous Folklorists.

Beginning of the era of visual documentation of folk art forms

In 1977, when he started travelling across the state, his camara and Nadoja H.L. Nagegowda were his constent companions. He collected enarmous treasure of folk over a period of 20 years. He brought out the essence of overall culture and lifestyle of folk art, which would, otherwise remained in the oblivian, and set a historic record for Karnataka folk culture.

The book ‘Karnataka Janapada Kalegalu’ which was published in 1977, under the able editorship of Sri Go.Ru. Channabasappa and with the support of ‘Kannada Sahitya Parishat’ introduces 142 folk artforms.  With Sreenivasamurthy s efforts the number of artforms were increased to 220. Subsequent years witnessed the telecast of the same in Bengaluru Doordarshan (All india Telivision) which helped Kannadigas, researchers, scholars and experts to get acquainted with the tribes & folk artforms.

One cannot forget the history of his contribution in documenting his research elaboration in his priceless photography and rare videography. In 1995 Kannada University Hampi has published the Encyclopaedia of Folk Arts ‘Karnataka Janapada Kalegala Kosha’ twice, once in 1995 and a refined edition in 2015, stands testimony for his intense research.First step in the documentation of tribes

Around 1979, Dr. V. Sreenivasamurthy with the able guidance and support of Sri. Huchchappa master has become pioneer in studying, picturizing and recording the entire life of several tribes (Indegeneous communities) inhabited along Western Ghats. He is still in close contact with tribes. Apart from this, he is actively involved in studying folk of vagabond, semi-vagabond and backward classes.

Documentaries on talent and achievements of folk artists

From 1979, he immersed completely himself in tribes & folk arts and encouraged thousands of artists who had preserved thier folk artforms. Mr. Murthy started documenting their struggles, achievements and their insurmountable life through the medium of still photography and video. As a result, this long forgotten, indigenous folk world unveiled itself to the outer world. His four & half decades of hardwork brought the tribe & folk world to the main stream at the state and national level.

Mr. Murthy started publishing tribe & folk artists with their photographs in Kannada & Englisf newspapers. Among them Prajaavaani, Samyukta Karnataka, Kannada Prabha, Munjane, Sudha (Weekly), Karma Veera and Deccan Herald, Indian Express, The Hindu and other state and regional newspapers were prominent. Among these artists some of them can be mentioned as examples.

Pakaravva Gudisagara, Sukri Bommagouda, Ranimachaiah, Radhabhai madara and hundreds of other artists.

The artists whose talents came into light by the efforts of Mr. Murthy have been decorated with many awards and accolades.

Seminars, debates and conferences

In 1986, Oct 18th and 19th at Akhila Karnataka Janapada Samavesha, held in Raichur, he made his maiden effort to present his ‘Samooha Maadhyamagalalli Jaanapada’(folklore in the media) which was much appreciated by the scholars and folk experts who were present at the seminar.

For the past 45 years he has been attending State Level, National and International seminars. He has presented papers in various forums on the topics of folklore, tribalism, modernity in folklore, transitions, broadcast media at Bengaluru, Bidar, Mysore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Shimla, Kannada University, Mysore University, Jaanapada Vishvavidyalaya (Folklore University)and many more.

Visiting Faculty

He is a visiting faculty at Karnataka Janapada Parishath (Janapada Loka), a recognised world folk heritage centre and  Karnataka Folklore University, one of its kind in the globe

He has attended the summit on ‘Folk and Tribe Culture in USA, Global Peace summit in South Korea, participated in WOMEX at Manchester, England.

Prestigeous books and Encyclopedia of Folk & Tribes Photography

His valuable photography have been incorporated in the following :

Production of more than 2600 documentaries

Folk culture which varies from region to region includes all kinds of festivals celebrations, costumes, music, ornaments, daily routines, varied diet, literature, varieties of instrumental ensembles, drama, listening, fairs and festivals, , dance, sobana songs, lullibies, folk theatre like mudalapaaya and Yakshagana …. many social and religious practices, art forms which were unknown, many are on the verge of extinction, which had not aroused interest, many remote areas which were unknown and unseen, had brought to the mainstream by the efforts of Dr.V. Sreenivasamurthy. He has filmed them in the original and natural surroundings and introduced them to the nation.

Over the past 45 years he has produced more than 2600 documentaries, short films and featurette films on all these subjects for the following organisations and individuals.

He has successfully carried out anthropological studies and social, religious and cultural studies in relation to ethnic studies. He has produced documentaries on 50 scheduled tribes of the state. Several non scheduled tribes and more than 50 nomads and semi-nomads who were living all around in Karnataka, cultural life, artistic life, socio religious statues, education, economic and employment of the backward classes, and presented them to respective organisations.

Audio of original folksongs

After interviewing thousands of women across the state and made them sing folksongs, historical events, Geegee padas and recorded them in their original forms and preserved at Ramanagar’s Folk world. Along with their documentation, videos and photographs have been taken and kept in the archives of Karnataka Folk Council, Kannada University, Karnataka Academy of Folklore and Sirigandha Cultural Foundation. These serve as an important research materials for those pursuing advanced studies in the field of folklore, as the originality has been retained in both material and narration here, which is an example of scholarly documentation of Sreenivasamurthy.

A treasure trove of photographs

For nearly 50 years, he travelled to thousands of villages and forest in search of tribes in the state of Karnataka, especially the hills and valleys of westren ghats, coastal plains, Northern part of Karnataka and border regions and collected black and white and colour photographs related to folk and tribal culture. He has a treasure trove that includes hundreds of professional artist’s pictures and precious pictures of art forms that have changed from time to time, which are part of the culture wealth of the country. This precious repository has not only aroused the interests of the students, scholars, researchers and artists but also gained appreciation and is conclusive to higher studies.

Many thousands of images are stored in archives of Karnataka Folklore Parishad (Janapada Loka), Karnataka Folk Academy, Karnataka Yakshagana Academy, Department of Kannada and Culture, Kannada University, Karnataka Folklore University, University of Mysore. The archives of photo documentaries, short films, portraits and panoramas related to folk culture captured by him are available in universities across the country.

Conducting tours of folk art troupes

From 1980 to recent times, he has led the troupes of various art forms of Karnataka folklore and tribes, enabled them to give successful performances. He has toured New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Shimla, Kolkata, Pondichery, Nagpur, Assam, Chandigarh and many other states and conducted performances of folk genres. At the same time he has successfully handled the responsibility of giving and introductory explanation about the arts in English and Hindi.

Folk & tribal art exhibitions

It is a historical record that where millions of enthusiasts, scholars, students, researchers gather together with great enthusiasm to celebrate the photography exhibition. He has portrayed the proud folk and tribal art world of our country through his photography under the caption ‘Desi Kannada Parampare’ (Indigeneous Heritage). More than 400 unique and rare photographs from nearly four & half decades of display have captivated thousands of viewers.

Thousands of viewers the All India Kannada Literary conference have left their valuable impressions of the show praising their usefullness in letters, conferences where folk films were exhibited.

*  03 to 05 June 1995, 64th Conference – Mudhola, presided over by Sri H.L. Nagegowda

*  21 to 24 December 1996, 65th Conference – Hassan, presided over by Sri. Chennaveera Kanavi.

   04 to 06 February 2011, 77th conference – Bengaluru, presided over by Sri.G.Venkatasubbaiah

   07  to 09 January 2014, 80th conference – Kodagu, presided over by N. D’souza.

The 80th All India Literary Conference held at Kodagu in 2014 was very successfully organised the exhibition of Photography with a new idea of ‘Kodava and Karnataka tribes’ along with Desi Kannada heritage.

Vishva Kannada Sammelana 2011, Belagavi

500 pictures selected from the best and valuable photographs taken in the last 40 years were introduced to the entire country in the name of ‘Desi Kannada Heritage’ at the Vishwa Kannada Sammelana held in Belagavi on March 11, 12, 13th 2011. This had brought Sreenivasamurthy pride and fame. The program was organised with the financial assistance of the Department of Kannada and Culture,Govt of Karnataka

Permanent exhibition of photographs

Photographs of the most precious art forms depicting the holistic Karnataka over the past 50 years are specially and exclusively exhibited at ‘Janapada Loka’ every year millions of tourist. Visit and view the pictures and record their impressions. Also a permanent selection of photographs related to the folk and tribal culture arts and artists has been exhibited at the Karnataka Folk Academy.

Establishment of Folk Museum

The great task of collecting daily use items, agricultural tools which were the lifeline of rural life and which were disappearing in many forms has been collected during field work and filming of folk and tribes. He has devoted many years to provide a respectable place for thousands of things that people were discarding, got burnt, get dumped or are taken out of the daily use. Under the guidance of Nadoja H.L. Nagegowda, the most difficult task which was undertaken then has become the life’s essence of today’s folk world.

As a result of his ten years of hard work, today the folk world museums are well known museums at the state, national and international levels.

‘Sirigandha’ the new light in the Kannada Folk World

Dr. V. Sreenivasamurthy’s life’s great achievement was the serial ‘sirigandha’ which he was produced and telecasted in dorrdarshan. Due to this Srinivasamurthy became popular as ‘SirigandhaSriniviasamurthy.’ Although he has been travelling across the country with his camera since 1979, it took 15 years for him to become famous and reach people’s heart. For the first time from 1994 to 1996, a comprehensive folk and tribal cultural heritage of Karnataka was telecasted twice a week by Bengaluru television through a serial named ‘Sirigandha’. This folk ‘Sirigandha’ which amused the whole state and the country has been appreciated by the entire people of Karnataka.

Under the aegis of Karnataka Folk Parishad and under the guidance of Nadoja Sri H.L. Nagegowda, Dr.V. Srinivasamurthy had produced ‘Sirigandha’ which was aired on Bengaluru Dooradarshan’s DD1 and DD9 (Chandana) for more than three years. It because popular beyond the expectations of scholars and researchers. This folk serial created a history in the folk world of India and Karnataka, through it many arts and artists come to light.

Jaanapada Sirinavilu for the youth

This is a unique and different program to introduce one hundred songs of original folk literature to the youth of the state and create interest in the folk. This is an individual of collection of Adiovisual songs approved by a selection committee chaired by Dr. ChandrashekaraKambara, the responsibility of production of which was given to Dr. V. Sreenivasamurthy by Bengaluru Doordarshan. This program JanapadaSirinavilu for which Mr. Murthy has undertaken photography and direction, is the most popular show on Bengaluru Television with 100 songs, continously aired from 2002 till today, i.e., for 25 years. This is a great work to popularise folk among the youth and still one of the most popular program today.

Jaanapada Makaranda

This had been a different kind of show done under the cinematography and direction of Dr. V. Sreenivasamurthy. This is a 26 episode series that comprehensively introduces the folk and different culture of Karnataka. A universally acclaimed cultural serial aired on Bengaluru Television in 2001-2002.

A folk treat for the people of Karnataka

It is not wrong to say that Mr. Murthy is credited with bringing the diverse cuisines of entire Karnataka to the people of Karnataka for the first time. This Rasadautana program, which aired once a week from 21-02-1997 was a unique program introducing regional food and dishes of the country. The Rasadoutana episodes were as popular as folk dance performances, were a great hit. This serials had been shot at source to bring in the essence of indigenous cuisines of the farmer folk.

Literature on Art-Artists

So for, more than 2000 introductory essays have been created on the arts, artists, art performances of the comprehensive folk, tribal, nomadic and semi-nomadic communities of Karnataka. They all are being consolidated and brought out in ten volumes. This huge work has been praised by the learned community at Karnataka as valuable and worthy of record.

Sirigowda cultural Institute

Dr. V. Sreenivasamurthy has started ‘Siriganda’ for the upliftment of Karnataka folk heritage and tribes, for the survival of its values, for creating love and awareness towards rural life, for research, study, for desi scientific stances, for effective dissemination of performing arts, for the wellbeing of artists and for the publication of value based works and has been serving as its founder chairman. On behalf of Siriganda Organization, hundreds of programs are being continouslyorganised across Karnataka for school and college students and interested organizations to create awareness and about Karnataka folklore.

Jaanapada Jaatre :A Folk Fair

The ‘Jaanapada Jaatre’ organised by the government of Karnataka on the occasion of the golden year of Karnataka became a unique event which gathered public attention and became a historic event. As a member of the high level committee of this program, he played an important role in the outlines, designs, artforms and other functions of the ‘Jaanapada Jaatre’ and worked tirelessly to make it a better program.

Honorary award for the service to the folklore

Hundreds of organizations across Karnataka recognized and honoured Dr. V. Sreenivasamurthy (only a few are mentioned here) :

*      Awarded by Karnataka Folk Council in 1993 (in folkworld)

*      In 1996, the Karnataka Janapada and Yakshagana Academy honoured him with special award of 1995

*      Aryabhata award in 1995

*      In 2021, Dr. Vemagal Narayanaswamy cultural foundation has awarded him ‘Samskruti Siri’

*      Siriganda folk serial has received hundreds of honours and across Karnataka.

Service of cultural organizations (only a few have been mentioned)

Dr.Sreenivasamurthy has been actively involved in many organisations as president, vice president, member  advising committees, selection commitees, art exhibition committees, etc., of various cultural and social service organizations of the state.

*      Trusty Member From 1989 to 1995 of Karnataka Janapada Parishath (Jaanapada Loka)

*      Member, High Level Committee, Jaanapada Jaatre, Government of Karnataka – 2010

*      Chairperson, Sirigandha Cultural Institute, Bengaluru – 2012

*      Member, Advisary committee SODWES, Sirsi – from 2023

*      Member, Film subsidy selection committee, Govt of Karnatka – 2025

*      Chairperson, Jury committee, Kodava sahity Academy short films Festival – 2018

*      Member, performing arts selection committee, Karnataka Janapada Academy – 2017

*      Adviser Globalkulture, India