Nautanki is one of the most popular folk operatic theatre traditions of northern India. The history of the Nautanki performative tradition (also referred to as swang) goes back several hundred years, and its origins lie in the folk performance traditions of Bhagat and Raasleela of Mathura and Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh, and Khayal of Rajasthan. Nautanki is characterized by melodic exchanges between two or three performers; a chorus is also used sometimes. Traditional nautankis usually start late at night and continue until sunrise the next morning, running for almost eight to ten hours. The performances have no intermission and are often punctuated with individual songs, dances, and skits, which serve as breaks and comic relief for audiences.
Post a Comment