Folk Theatre

Description

Nautanki

• It is associated with the state of Uttar Pradesh
• Famous centers of this theatre form are Kanpur, Lucknow, and Haathras.
• Only Men could play a part in this folk dance theatre initially. However, these days even woman are allowed
• Gulab Bai of Kanpur is a famous artist of this school

Raasleela

• It is based exclusively on Lord Krishna legends
• Some believe that it was Nand Das who wrote the initial plays based on the life of Krishna.
• This theatre is famous in the regions of Mathura, Vrindavana in Uttar Pradesh, especially during the festivals of Krishna Janmashtami and Holi

Jatra

• This form was born and nurtured in Bengal
• It became popular due to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu influence
• The earlier form of Jatra was musical. Dialogues were added at a later stage.
• Fairs in honor of gods, or religious rituals and ceremonies are also conducted

Maach

·         Maach is the folk theatre of the region of Malwa in Madhya Pradesh.

·         Initially, it was based on mythological themes such as Mahabharata and Ramayana. Later,

·         romantic folk tales were included into its repertoire.

·         The unique feature of this form is the dialogues, which are delivered in the form of couplets known as Rangat Dohas.

Tamasha

·         Tamasha is form of folk theatre in the region of Maharashtra, known for its humour and erotic content.

·         The unique feature of Tamasha is the presence of female actors, who play even the male roles. The Tamasha performances are generally accompanied by Lavani songs

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. With reference to Dashavatar, a traditional folk theatre form in Maharashtra, consider the following statements:

1. It primarily depicts stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

2. Only male performers participate, often portraying female roles.

3. Dashavatar performances are usually held in indoor auditoriums.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct

Dashavatar is a folk theatre form from Maharashtra and parts of Goa that narrates stories from Hindu mythology, particularly the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. It includes elements from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Statement 2 is correct

Traditionally, only male performers participate, and they often take on female roles due to the historic restriction on female participation.

Statement 3 is incorrect

These performances are held in open-air settings, usually at night, not in indoor auditoriums.