At a glance
- Kuchamani instruments: dhol, shehnai, dholak and sarangi players are the main accompanists.
- Shekhawati instruments: mostly harmonium, sarangi, shehnai, flute, nakkara and dholak.
- Dangal: Turra-Kalangi was carried by poetic compositions on Shiva and Shakti, called dangal.
Facts
| Since | The early 18th century |
|---|---|
| Themes | Mythological or heroic tales, with historical elements |
| Styles | The styles differ by region in manner, not in language |
The styles
| Style | Place and artists | Plays |
|---|---|---|
| Kuchamani | Founded by Lachhiram; Ugamraj is a leading player | Chand Nilgiri, Rao Ridmal, Meera Mangal |
| Shekhawati | Nanuram of Chirawa, its main player; his disciple Duliya Rana | Heer Ranjha, Harichand, Bhartrihari, Jaidev Kalali, Dhola Marvan, Alhadev |
| Jaipuri | Artists of the Gunijankhana | Jogi-Jogan, Kan-Gujari, Miyan-Bibi, Pathan, Rasili Tambolan |
| Hela | Dausa, Lalsot and Sawai Madhopur; the poet Hela | |
| Kanhaiya | Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Dholpur, Bharatpur and Dausa | |
| Turra-Kalangi | Mewar; centres Ghosunda, Chittorgarh, Nimbahera and Neemuch (Madhya Pradesh) |
Kuchamani and Shekhawati
- Kuchamani is opera-like, with folk songs to the fore. It is played on an open stage, in simple language, on themes of social satire.
- Shekhawati khyal is known for effective footwork and for songs sung in a communicative style of words and gesture. Duliya Rana's family bears the cost of his khyals.
Turra-Kalangi
- The saint-pirs Shah Ali and Tukangir of Mewar composed it about 400 years ago.
- Turra stands for Shiva and Kalangi for Parvati; Tukangir took the side of Turra and Shah Ali the side of Kalangi.
- Its dialogues, called bol, are in verse.
- It is non-professional. A stage about 20 feet high is richly decorated in the Rajasthani style, the audience can take part more than in any other folk play, and the chang is played.
- Best-known artists: Soni Jaydayal, Chetram, Hamid Beg, Tarachand and Thakur Onkar Singh.
Remember: often mixed up
- Women on the stagein Jaipuri khyal women play the female roles too · in Kuchamani khyal men play them.
- Hela or KanhaiyaHela opens with the bam (a big nagara) and the naubat, and its mark is hela dena, a long, high call · Kanhaiya's story is called kahan and its lead character mediya.
Test yourself: asked in exams
CET Graduation Level 2024 · Q73
Which statements regarding Kuchamani Khayal are correct? a. Kuchamani Khayal was started by the famous folk dramatist Lachhi Ram. b. Chand Nilgiri, Rao Ridamal and Meera Mangal are the main khayals created by Lachhi Ram. c. Kuchamani Khayal is not performed in an open theatre. d. In this Khayal, players of Dhol, Sarangi, Clarinet and Dholak are the main accompanists. Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
- (1)b, c and d only
- (2)a, c and d only
- (3)a, b, and c only
- (4)a, b and d only
Show answer
✓ (4) a, b and d only
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