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Swang
Swang is a sort of semi-religious metrical play in which episodes from the
lives of celebrated heroes are depicted. It is partly acted and
partly recited and is performed by professional ballad singers at festivals like
Holi, Basant and Dussehra. There is generally preference for a hero whose
virtuous life may help arouse religious feelings among the people. Some of the
favourite Swangs present incidents from the life of Puran Bhagat, Gopi Chand and
Hakkekat Rai. Nala Damayanthi and Roop Basant are the other popular Swang. On
important fairs, groups of entertainers enact these Swangs in order to instill religious feelings into the people.
The
performances are mostly musical and the
songs are set to popular folk tunes. They are among the finest assortments of
folk-songs, music, metrical dialogues, acting and dancing all very cleverly
linked by an episodic commentary but the main speaker.
Nautanki
Nautanki is a form of
Swang. It takes its name from the legend of a beautiful
princess of the Punjab who fell in love with Phool Singh. The drama of her life
when played and replayed before audiences became so popular that in course of
time all plays performed on its pattern came to be called Nautanki.
The main difference between Nautanki and Swang is that the
Swang is intended
to arouse religious sentiments and is didactic by nature and the Nautanki is in
essence a presentation of episodes depicting love and valour. Swangs are serious
by nature. There is always a jester in the Nautanki who occasionally comes to
the stage and makes the audience laugh. Sometimes he makes open digs at the
unfair treatment which the rich mete out to the poor. Most of the tunes are
adapted from popular folk tunes. Heer Ranjha, Sassi Punnu, Nala Damayanti and
Sucha Singh Surma are some the most famous legends adapted for the Nautanki.
Naqal
This form of entertainment is very popular in the villages of
Punjab. It is enjoyable in as much as it presents subtly and sarcastically the
seamy side of life. Those who specialized in this art were generally Mirasis,
Naqaals and Bhands.
A
Naqaal troupe comprises, besides dancers and singers, clowns and musicians.
The leader of the troupe is generally called Ustad. Legends and semi-historical
tales like Dulla Bhatti, Sohni Mahiwal, Kima Malki, Hodi and Koklan form the
popular repertoire of the Naqaals.
Bhands generally present themselves in farcical roles. They are quick-witted
and it is well known that their mind is like a razor's edge. Their profession is
passed on from generation to generation. They are experts at improvising jokes
suited to an occasion. Sometimes they mimic landlords who live in luxury but
deprive their employees of the barest amenities of life. A very popular tale of
this type is about a rich person who employed a servant on the only condition
that he would not converse except through singing and that for every slip
that he made, he would be fined. Once when the master's house was on fire the
servant came and danced and sang to his master as he gave him the information.
In the meantime, the house was completely gutted. The master reprimanded the
servant for being frivolous on such serious occasion. The servant rightly
reminded him of his service contract and said that he did not want to risk his
job. The master hit his own head in sheer desperation.
Bhands and mimics
entertain people on weddings, births and other festive occasion. Sometimes there
is a streak of obscenity and vulgarity in their presentation.
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