Drum dictates the tune in kolam of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Kblam Natima, popularly known as Kalam is such a theatre-performance surviving in the littoral belt of the Southern and the Western Provinces of the island It is a rural dance-drama of an operatic and ballatic character having a central story content. A handful of Sri Lankan composers of music turn to the folk music idiom for inspiration. Some of them have created their own melodies based on Kolam recitations. They manage to retain the popular tune and the generic rhythmic scheme of the original folk song. This is despite the apathy of a public who refuse to be weaned away from cheap musical scores.