Behrupias enthralling Vizagites at IFR

Visakhapatnam: Children and adults are taken aback when a 60-year-old man in the attire of emperor Akbar shouting `Saleem Tum Kahan Ho’ at the crafts bazaar section in IFR village. The old man’s sons, too, are entertaining the crowd dressed as Ravana, Sri Krishna and Bakasura.

Children and their parents are lining up to take selfies with these artistes who came all the way from Jaipur, Rajasthan. This art form Behrupia, centuries old was found in northern India, but now confined to Jaipur where a few hundreds are still practising.

“My family is in this art since seven generations, but I am not sure my grand children will keep this tradition. In the earlier days royal families and zamindaars pampered this art form in a big way, but now it is getting difficult to live on it,” said 60-year-old Sibrati, who along with his three sons, is entertaining the people at IFR village.

He says the artistes get work four or five times in a year and each is paid Rs 500 to Rs 800 depending on the seniority. The Rajasthan government always invites them during government functions, seminars and conventions, but yet to consider any pension for them.

Younger generation is not interested in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata anymore and they want the artistes to imitate Gabbar Singh and other Bollywood stars. And with the advent of TVs, even villagers are not showing much interest, Sibrati said.

“I was invited to perform in Belgium, Paris, Hong Kong, but these trips did not bring in any change in my life,” Sibrati said.