Tamasha

Understand

Where Tamasha comes from

Tamasha is the traditional Marathi folk-theatre form, often with singing and dancing, performed by local or travelling troupes across Maharashtra. The word is borrowed from Persian (and ultimately Arabic) tamasha, meaning a show or theatrical entertainment. The form acquired its distinct shape in the late Peshwa period of the Maratha Empire in the 18th century, absorbing elements of older traditions including Dasavatar, Gondhal, Kirtan and the Waghya-murali of the Khandoba bhakti tradition. Traditional Tamasha format featured dancing-boys (nachya) playing women's roles, a poet-composer (shahir) as sutradhar, and a jester (songadya) who compered the show. From the late 19th century onward women took over the dance roles and the Lavani section became central. Today only some 18-20 full-time Tamasha troupes remain, performing about 210 days a year across Maharashtra and the border villages of Karnataka and Gujarat.

How it's practiced

A full Tamasha programme has two parts: a dholki-fadcha Tamasha that is complete art combining song, dance and theatre, and an older sangeet-baari Tamasha with more dance and music than drama. Music is led by the dholki, and Lavani songs (nirguni and shringari) form the principal repertoire. The Tamasha troupe is led by a sarkar (master) and includes 10-12 performers — male dancers (chhokras), female Lavani singers, musicians and clowns. Performances are staged at village squares, melas and at households celebrating weddings or religious occasions.