Aayushi International Interdisciplinary Research Journal (AIIRJ) Vol - VI Issue - I JANUARY 2019 Peer Review e-Journal Impact Factor 5.707 ISSN 2349-638x Scrutinizing The Role And Challenges To The Folk Theatre In Maharashtra Manish Surendrarao Gomase. Research Scholar. SLLCS. SRTM University, Nanded—431606. various folk deities like Khandoba and Devnarayan. Maharashtra has a rich cultural heritage. It is Devotees worship the deity throughout night by inhabited by the various social groups, marked by reciting a religious hymn and listening to legends of differences in ethnic origin, religious beliefs and the deity. practices, dialects of language/ languages they speak, Swang: social customs they observe, personal laws by which It is the folk-dance theatrical form. It lays they are governed and their artistic traditions which importance on theatrics and mimicry accompanied are best portrayed through the unique art of the Folk by song and dialogue. A group of ten or twelve Theatre. It indicates that each Folk Theatre people performs an act surrounded by the audience. performance in Maharashtra is a unique It deals with the subject-matter__ morality, folk tales, representation of the regi onal culture, its value and lives of inspiring personalities, stories from Indian its people. It is a mixture of song, dance and dialogue mythology, health, literacy, etc. and „it is marked by simplicity of staging, costumes Dashaavatar: and language.‟ (Wadikar 5) It is related to the ten avatars of Vishnu. It is The Folk Theatre in Maharashtra has said that Vishnu came on the earth to maintain developed various traditional folk forms representing __ cosmic order. These ten avatars are—Matsya, culture in Maharashtra. These theatrical forms are Kurma, Varaha, Narasinha, Vamana, Parashurama, Tamasha, Gondhal, Povada, Swang, Dashaavatar, Rama, Krishma, Buddha, and Kalki. The concept of Nautanki, Bharud, Ramlila, etc. these Avatars rises from the lowest level of life Tamasha: through the fish, the tortoise, and takes over to the Tamasha is the principal form of the Folk perfection of humanity. Theatre of Maharashtra consisting of song, music Nautanki: and dance. It flourished during the period of Moghals It is also form of the Folk Theatre in and Peshwas and is still performed. According to Maharashtra enacted to provide entertainment and to Mirajkar, „Tamasha has its roots in certain religious render social messages to the audience. It is rites and the dramatic entertainment performed on ‟ generally in verse incorporating the meters like certain occasion. (Mirajkar 19) The song-dance Doha, Chhappal, Chaubola and Behartabeela. The troupe and the folk drama troupe are two modern play begins with a prayer like many other forms. Tamasha troupes. Tamasha incorporates three basic __ Ranga plays a role like chorus of setting the scenes elements the entertainment tradition, the and the time of action and introducing the main propagandist tradition and the devotional tradition. It characters. includes a love song that is lavani sung to the There are several other forms of the Folk accompaniment of dance and musical instruments Theatre like Bhagwat, Kirtan, Povada, Jalasa, etc. like dholki, tuntuna, daf, halgi, etc. These Folk Theatre forms existed in all over Gondhal: Maharashtra reinforce light on ethnicity, religion, It is a religious folk theatre form practiced in social structure, customs, practices, and so on many castes in Maharashtra. Its function is to representing a panorama of Maharashtrians‟ life. educate and entertain. It is performed to reduce the The Role of the Folk Theatre sufferings of family, caused by negative energy. The Folk Theatre is a medium which mirrors Jagran: life with its various facets. Social, cultural, political, It is all-night awakening, songs and dance in economical and official (government) condition is honour of various Hindu deities, Shiva as well as Email id’s:- [email protected],[email protected] I Mob.08999250451 Page No. website :- www.aiirjournal.com 28 Aayushi International Interdisciplinary Research Journal (AIIRJ) Vol - VI Issue - I JANUARY 2019 Peer Review e-Journal Impact Factor 5.707 ISSN 2349-638x directly and indirectly associated or influenced by it history of the past of their contemporary era whether or vice-versa. It channelizes the new ideas that bring it is social, political, economical, cultural or religious the changes in society. Its role is as follows: situation. So the historical thematic concerns occupy Social Awareness: a pivotal place in it. The Folk Theatre plays a significant role in Depiction of Politics: social awareness. There are number of evil practices There are number of political parties in were performed and are still performed. It functions Maharashtra. It is very complex to understand the to cease the practices such as child marriage, dowry, ideologies and practices of these parties to common slavery, untouchability, discrimination, corruption people. Here, the folk theatre can reinforce light on and superstition, and to favour the ideas of the situation. Even the political parties employ the independence, self-existence, equality, liberty, folk theatrical forms to disseminate their political fraternity, girl education and sacred life. Even agenda and ideologies to reach to all corners of the morality, truth, sacrifice, love, lives of inspiring state effectively. Through them, these parties personalities, stories from mythologies are preached endeavour to convince the people and to form the through this medium. It can reach to every individual opinions that favour to them. In 1940s, Indian People from lower to upper classes, castes, creeds, religions Theatre Association, the cultural front of the and races. For example, Ambedkarite Jalsas were Communist Party of India, handled the regional folk performed to bring forth social inequality and to theatre form like Tamasha in Maharashtra to increase establish new social order in which each entity is social awareness and political education. Sometimes equal. these forms are oppositely used to highlight the Representation of Culture: corruption and malpractices in the political parties by It is the best medium of a representation of the social activists. It has positive and negative culture. In this regard, Dissanayaka asserts „It is a effects on the political parties. communication system embedded in the culture Communication of Government Policies and Acts: which existed much before the arrival of mass media, Government forms the Policies and the Acts and which still exists as a vital mode of to make development of state. These Policies and communication in many parts of the world Acts need to be communicated among the people, presenting a certain degree of continuity, despite and here, the Folk Theatre is useful to convey the changes‟. The Folk Theatre forms such as Ramlila, information. Understanding the importance of the Gondhal, Dashavatara, Jagran, Bhagwat, etc. revolve traditional medium, the first five year plan projected around the religious themes. It creates a religious that people in rural areas should be reached through atmosphere in society. Various traditions, customs, the traditional folk theatre form of communication. rituals, doctrines, values and principles occupy a In 1954, the Song and Drama Division of the Union significant place in it. It is a live expression of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was set up lifestyle and culture of people evolved through the by the Government of India to create awareness years. In other words, through the representation of among the masses of the rural India. It functions to culture, it is easy to comprehend the social structure create national integration and communal harmony of the contemporary society. and to emphasize on eradication of untouchability, Recalling History: family planning, women empowerment, fundamental It is said that the Folk Theatre emerged with rights, ideals of democracy and the aspects of socio- the Classical Sanskrit Theatre. It portrays a panorama cultural phenomenon. It is really useful to propagate of life from an ancient to a modern period. The lives the development programmes of government among of the historical personalities like Shivaji Maharaj the masses. are excellently presented through the medium of Source of Employment: Povada. In Bhagvat, an orator speaks about lives and The Folk Theatre is also a source of works of the saints like Eknath, Namdev, Tukaram, employment. There are many families or gharanas Gadge Maharaj, Janabai etc. It brings forth the performing certain forms of the Folk Theatre. They Email id’s:- [email protected],[email protected] I Mob.08999250451 Page No. website :- www.aiirjournal.com 29 Aayushi International Interdisciplinary Research Journal (AIIRJ) Vol - VI Issue - I JANUARY 2019 Peer Review e-Journal Impact Factor 5.707 ISSN 2349-638x have made it their profession hereditarily and earn eyes of the audience. So Lack of innovation in tools the bread and butter for them. There are many and techniques is also a cause of lingering behind the professional troupes of the Folk Theatre all over modern forms and it is a challenge to sustain its Maharashtra, they are hired to perform and they can popularity and existence. earn from such performances. Surekha Punekar is a Lack of Patronage: professional tamasha dancer who not only earns The Folk Theatre forms require a patronage. money but also achieves popularity all over the In past, Tamasha was patronized by the King of world. Babasaheb