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Nautanki

Dramatic Genres

Nautanki is one of the most popular folk performance forms of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in northern India, and before the advent of Bollywood cinema was the largest entertainment medium in the villages and towns of the region, known for rich musical compositions and humorous, entertaining storylines. Its origins lie in the Saangit, Bhagat and Swang musical theatre traditions of northern India; one Saangit, called Saangit Rani Nautanki Ka, became so popular that the whole genre took its name, and it remains most prominent in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Bihar.

Facts
Place of Origin
North India, most associated with Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Bihar 1
Notable Example
Amar Singh Rathore, one of the popular traditional Nautanki plays 1
Defining Trait
An all-night folk opera of romantic tales, mythology and hero biographies, traditionally beginning late at night and continuing until sunrise 1
Connections

Form Of Genre

Drama, Genres
Sources
1. Nautanki (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Geography section
    Nautanki is most famous in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Bihar.
  • Performance section
    Traditional Nautanki performances usually start late at night, often around 10 P.M., and go all night until sunrise.
  • Repertoire section
    Some popular traditional Nautankis are Syah-Posh (Pak Mohabbat), Sultana Daku, Indal Haran, Amar Singh Rathore, Bhakt Puranmal, and Harischandra-Taramati.
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