Post News Network
Cuttack, July 26: Orissa Melody Parties’ Association, an association of orchestra troupes, has issued guidelines to its members asking them to abstain from vulgar performances.
As per new guidelines, an orchestra troupe associated with the association can no longer have more than four women artistes. The troupes have also been asked not to perform any song that is laden with vulgar innuendo or has suggestive lyrics.
The orchestra culture burst on to the scene in the state in the early 70s. A few singers of All India Radio-Cuttack such as G Narayan Rao, Shekhar Ghosh, Muhammed Habib and Mubarak Khan used to perform during Durga Puja on behalf of the Shankarpur-Chhatrabazaar Puja Committee, and these shows quickly gained cult status.
Subsequently, Habib along with Prasannajit Mahanty and Tapas Ghosh launched a band to perform during Durga Puja and Ganesh Puja in the city. Soon, famous Oriya music directors Akhaya Mahanty and Prafulla Kar also established their own bands to cash in on the growing demand across the state.
There are currently around 100 orchestra troupes functional in the state, while 65 of them are members of the association that was founded in 2010.
However, complaints have been pouring in recent years regarding vulgar performances that have become common.
This prompted the association to introduce some measures to check the growing trend, said association president Shyamkumar Nayyar.
“The association will take strong action including cancellation of licence and suspension of membership if the guidelines are violated,” said media coordinator of the association Jitu Mangaraj.
