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Jaipur Tamasha, a unique musical folk play, is a 19th-century contribution by Jaipur city in Indian state of Rajasthan to the folk theatre of Rajasthan. At the start of the 18th century, in the peripherals of Agra, two groups originated and developed a poetic dialogue. This later on came to be known as ‘Khayal-Tamasha’ during the reign of Aurangzeb, When musicians lost their patronage, they started looking for alternative environments to carry out their art and music. The contemporary emperor of Jaipur, Maharaja Sawai Jaisingh brought a few artists to Jaipur and settled them in Brahmpuri. The foremost among them was the Bhatt Family of Jaipur. Here in under the proximity of the chief of the Bhatt family, Shri Banshidhar Bhatt, Tamasha style developed a specific form.

Tamasha Performing By Dr Saurabh Bhatt(Tamasha Sadhak)

This was a musical based folk dramatic form, which had an explicit composition of music acting and dance.The Tamasha form with its music comprising classical, semi classical and folk melody, replete with acting and dancing is being performed from the last 250 years in the open theatre called ‘Akhara’ at Brahampuri in Jaipur with a unique style of presentation. The Tamasha form with its music comprising classical, semi classical and folk melody, replete with acting and dancing is being performed from the last 250 years in the open theatre called ‘Akhara’ at Brahampuri in Jaipur with a unique style of presentation.

Jaipur Tamasha Performance By Tapan Bhatt

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The Tamasha form with its music comprising classical, semi classical and folk melody, replete with acting and dancing is being performed from the last 250 years in the open theatre called ‘Akhara’ at Brahampuri in Jaipur with a unique style of presentation.

Aalaap By Dr Saurabh Bhatt (Jaipur Tamasha)


The foundation of the narrative of Tamasha is solidarity, love and religious co-existence (secularism) as the Sanskrit plays conclude with a ‘Bharat Vakya’ Tamasha too, at the end of its plot concludes with a happy ending, the fulfilling of the wishes of the protagonist and wishing for the welfare of all. In the Tamasha, the main ragas which are used are ‘Bhupali’ 'Sarang' ‘Aasawari’ (Komal ishbh) "Jonpuri’ ‘Malkauns’ ‘Darbari’ ‘Bihag’ ‘Sindh Kafi’ ‘ Bhairvi’ ‘Kalingda’ and ‘Kedar’ etc. The accompanying instruments are Harmoniyam, Tabla, Sarangi, and Ghugroo.

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Jaipur Tamasha Presentation Style (Chota Akhada)

The Tamasha form with its music comprising classical, semi classical and folk melody, replete with acting and dancing is being performed from the last 250 years in the open theatre called ‘Akhara’ at Brahampuri in Jaipur with a unique style of presentation.

Costume Jaipur Tamasha (Artist Dr Saurabh Bhatt)

The foundation of the narrative of Tamasha is solidarity, love and religious co-existence (secularism) as the Sanskrit plays conclude with a ‘Bharat Vakya’ Tamasha too, at the end of its plot concludes with a happy ending, the fulfilling of the wishes of the protagonist and wishing for the welfare of all. In the Tamasha, the main ragas which are used are ‘Bhupali’ 'Sarang' ‘Aasawari’ (Komal ishbh) "Jonpuri’ ‘Malkauns’ ‘Darbari’ ‘Bihag’ ‘Sindh Kafi’ ‘ Bhairvi’ ‘Kalingda’ and ‘Kedar’ etc. The accompanying instruments are Harmoniyam, Tabla, Sarangi, and Ghugroo.

Vishal Bhatt as Chitranga - Tamasha Ranjha heer

The costumes are very important to the identity of Tamasha. The Tamasha (Crest) "kalangi’ (plume) Gotedar Bhagwavastra ( laced saffron garments), a singi and seli (a sheat fish and a neck ornament) to give beats are among the chief costumes of the performance of Tamasha.. The Tamasha actors also give an imagined description of the costumes of the performance to which the audience believes similarly the part of the female characters is and the audience enjoys suspending their disbelief. The creative texts used in tamasha are chiefly ‘Tamasha Gopichand’ ‘ Tamasha Ranjah heer’ ‘Tamasha Jogi Jogan’ ‘Roopchand Gandhi’ ‘ Jutthan Miyan’ ‘Chaila Panihari’, etc. The Jaipur Tamasha has become very famous folk tradition in North India.

Performance by Dr Tapan Bhatt And Vinat Bhatt

This folk art originally took place as poetic dialogues between two groups of poets. These poets received special attention in the royal court of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh. Bhatt family was one of the lucky poetic family that received acknowledgment for the art. Under this clan, the poetic expressions developed into several new and distinct forms of art. Even today poetry is one of the main forms of Tamasha. However, it now greatly accompanies by singing, acting, and dancing. Since then the Tamasha folk art of Jaipur has become popular, and it continues to attract tourists even till date. The musical tamasha has managed to survive and entertain audiences even in the modern world.

After the pioneer of Tamasha, Shri Banshidhar Ji Bhatt, the era of Tamasha guru, artist and new Tamasha writer Vasudev Bhatt is an extremely important link in the development of Tamasha art. Vasudev Bhatt preserved the Tamasha art at a time when the Tamasha art was becoming extinct. Gunijan's food got spoiled. The members of the Tamasha family were in search of livelihood to support their family. After the death of his father Shri Mannuji Bhatt, he took over the institution "Veenapani Kala Mandir Samiti" established by his father for the development of Jaipur Tamasha art and got lost in the exile of Tamasha. For years, he continued the art of Tamasha by taking donations from the audience who loved it. Vasudev Bhatt, combining his theatrical understanding and the elements of the inherited Tamasha tradition, created many modern Tamashas like Govind bhakth, Vritraj, Krishna Darshan, 21 vi sadi and many more, and staged them successfully.

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Even though the art form has existed for more than 250 years with the core elements remaining the same, it has received some influence from the contemporary world, as well. This mainly reflects in the storyline and there are even references of actual events of the present times. It might include anything from recent scandals in politics to developments in sports or technology. Therefore, this form of art is still popular, and they are used in movies and theatres, as well.

Key Performers and Artists

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Beginning to year 2020

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  1. late Sh Banshidhar Bhatt 'Danishiromani' (founder of Tamasha)
  2. late Brijpal Bhatt
  3. late Phool ji Bhatt
  4. late Mannu Lal Bhatt
  5. late Gopikrishna Bhatt
  6. late Govind Narayan Bhatt
  7. late Damodar Lal Bhatt
  8. Jagdish Prasad Bhatt
  9. Late Niranjan Bhatt

New Generation Performers

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  1. Pt. Vasudev Bhatt
  2. Tapan Bhatt
  3. Vishal Bhatt
  4. Dr. Saurabh Bhatt
  5. Dilip Bhatt
  6. Vinat Bhatt
  7. Shailendra Sharma
  8. Samwad Bhatt
  9. Abhinay Bhatt

References

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