When people speak about Indian musical instruments, they often think about the veena, flute, violin,tabla and other instruments regularly performed on large stages .In villages and traditional communities, unusual instruments have survived through practice,storytelling and oral transmission.The Kinnera is one such rare instrument, closely associated with the cultural heritage of Telangana.The Kinnera is important not only because of the sound it produces. Its value also lies in the stories,memories and traditions that have travelled with it from one generation to another. Traditional performers used it while singing about local heroes, important events and the experiences of ordinary people. Among those who kept this tradition alive, Darshanam Mogilaiah holds a special place. His life and work have brought the Kinnera to the attention of people far beyond the communities in which it was traditionally performed.
CULTURAL STRUCTURE OF KINNERA
The Kinnera is a traditional two-stringed instrument made from natural and locally available materials.it include bamboo, dried bottle-gourd shells, honeycomb, bull horn, beads, mirrors and peacock feathers. Earlier forms also used naturally derived materials for the strings, while Mogilaiah later used metal strings in his version. These materials reflect the practical knowledge of traditional craftspeople who made musical instruments from what was available around them.Another striking feature is its series of steps or frets. Traditional forms could have seven, eight or nine steps. Mogilaiah developed a Kinnera with twelve steps, giving him greater room for musical expression.The Tribal Affairs profile describes him as the last person to have mastered the twelve-step Kinnera. His contribution was therefore not limited to performing an old instrument; he also helped maintain and develop a particular form of it.The Kinnera was closely connected with storytelling.The tradition has been associated with communities and with the wider cultural environment of the Deccan and Nallamala region. This makes the instrument important from several perspectives. It represents music, traditional , oral history and community identity atthe same time.
HISTORY OF KINNERA
Kinnera is one of the most important cultural instruments, and it also explains the cultural values to the upcoming generations. The history of Kinnera was raised from the tribal communities of the Nallamala region in Telangana. The exact date was not known, but it was developed by the tribal people many years ago. Generally, Kinnera was used to produce sound like a guitar and to allow oral history to be shared with other people. Mainly, Kinnera was played by one member, and he explained the history of the local leaders orally. Great artists like Darshan Mogilaiah and Balamma were recognised as masters of this instrument.This cultural instrument was born from a very ancient tradition, and it was maintained by older generations and passed from one generation to another.
It represents the tribal community and ancient culture of Telangana.Recognising the main concepts, the instrument creates a network between generations.Kinnera played a crucial role in the culture, mostly while passing traditions from one generation to another. Some people particularly maintained the instrument and passed the tradition to the next generation. It helped in remembering the sacrifices of their leaders and maintaining their stories while travelling through the generations. Kinnera was mainly updated over time. The first generation of Kinnera was mainly developed with seven or eight steps, but later it was developed into 12 steps by Mogilaiah.
Metal strings were also introduced by him. .Kinnera was something extraordinary when compared with modern musical instruments.Mainly, Kinnera was seen as an ancient symbol of tribal culture, and it also received national recognition. Kinnera was the tribal musical instrument which carried the emotions and sacrifices of leaders. It explained the stories of their leaders and also made the history alive.Kinnera’s history was not started at one particular point, but it evolved from one generation to another. The main concept of Kinnera was not only as a musical instrument, but also as a great concept and idea that spread cultural philosophy.Historically, Kinnera stands from old to new generations, spreading its core concept of traditional, making the culture alive and also making the tradition meaningful. Kinnera plays a significant role in preserving the traditional culture of Telangana.
DARSHANAM MOGILAIAH LIVING MAESTRO
Darshanam Mogilaiah born in1951 at Nagarkurnool district of Telangana. His father, Yellaiah,strongly influenced his musical life. Mogilaiah began accompanying his father when he was about eight years old. His path from the childhood was difficult. Playing the Kinnera did not always provide enough income to support a family, so he also worked as a daily-wage worker. Even during these difficulties,he continued to practise and perform. His commitment shows that cultural preservation often depends on people who continue their art even when there is little financial struggles.For more than five decades, Mogilaiah performed folk stories about local heroes such as Pandugolla Sayanna, Endavetla Pakiraiah and Miya Saab. These narratives were more than songs for entertainment. Within the tradition, they preserved memories of people associated with ordinary and economically weaker communities. Through repeated performances, their names and stories could remain part of collective memory.His work demonstrates the relationship between music and history. Written records do not always preserve the experiences of every community equally. Oral traditions can preserve another kind of history: the memories that people themselves considered important. The Kinnera therefore gave a voice to stories carried through performance rather than printed documents.
NATIONAL RECOGNIZATION
One of Mogilaiah’s most significant contributions was his development of the twelve-step Kinnera. By increasing the number of steps and using metal strings, he expanded the instrument’s musical possibilities while keeping its traditional character. This shows that tradition does not always mean leaving every part unchanged. An art form can remain authentic while an artist carefully adapts it.His Contribution to the Kinnera received national recognition with Padma Shri in 2022 in the field of Art.The award brought a rare Telangana folk tradition into the national spotlight. It also reminded wider audiences that India’s cultural heritage includes many local traditions in addition to famous classical forms.Mogilaiah’s music reached a modern mass audience through his participation in the title song of The telugu films. Cinema allowed the distinctive sound of the Kinnera to reach people who might never have attended a traditional folk performance. His journey shows that an old art form the modern spaces without losing its meaning when its cultural roots are respected. The instrument also shows the relationship between environment and traditional craftsmanship. The use of bamboo, bottle-gourd shells, horn and other natural materials reflects an older approach to making musical objects from locally available resources. Preserving the Kinnera therefore also means preserving knowledge about materials, construction and sound.
PRESERVING THE TRADITION
The present story of the Kinnera contains both achievement and concern. Its national recognition show that a traditional instrument can attract attention beyond its original community. However, recognition alone cannot guarantee survival. If very few people know how to make, play and teach the instrument,the tradition remains vulnerable.A musical instrument cannot remain alive simply by being placed in a museum. A museum can protect an object, but a living tradition needs performers. Someone must know how to hold the instrument,produce its sounds, understand its steps and connect the music with the stories belonging to it. Without performers and learners, the physical instrument may survive while the knowledge around it disappears.Preservation must also include support for artists.
Mogilaiah’s experience shows that national recognition and financial security are not necessarily the same thing. Reports have highlighted economic difficulties faced by him even after major recognition. Cultural preservation therefore requires respect,opportunities and practical support for the people who carry traditions.The future of the Kinnera depends on whether its knowledge can be passed to another generation. The strongest approach would combine traditional teaching with modern educational and digital methods.Experienced performers can teach practical skills, while schools and cultural organisations can create spaces where young people encounter the instrument.
Researchers can document the history, construction, musical techniques and stories associated with The kinnera. Such work should be respectful and involve traditional artists and communities. The aim should not be to remove the instrument from its cultural setting, but to understand and protect the knowledge connected with it.The Kinnera can also become an important part of Telangana’s cultural education. Students who learn about regional instruments can better understand the diversity of Indian music. They can discover That India’s musical heritage is made not only of famous classical instruments but also of local traditions developed by different communities.
CONCLUSION
The Kinnera is much more than a two-stringed musical instrument. It is a combination of music,storytelling, craftsmanship and memory. Its materials reflect traditional knowledge, its music has accompanied oral narratives, and its history is connected with communities of the Telangana And Deccan region.Darshanam Mogilaiah’s life gives this tradition a powerful human dimension. From learning the Kinnera from his father as a child to performing for decades, working through financial difficulties and receiving the Padma Shri, his journey reflects extraordinary dedication. His twelve-step Kinnera and his efforts to bring the instrument to wider audiences have helped give national attention to a rare tradition.The story also teaches that recognition is valuable, but recognition alone is not preservation. A tradition survives when people practise it, teach it, document it and respect the artists who carry it. If younger generations are given opportunities to learn the Kinnera and understand the stories connected with it, the instrument can remain a living part of Telangana’s cultural identity.
By: GUGULOTH SAGAR
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