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Traditionally, Tamasha was performed by members from the nomadic Kolhati, Asvalvale, Bahrupi and Vasudev communities, as well as darveshis, hijras and Dalit bara balutedars (artisanal and service castes). Most women performers in tamasha belong to the Kolhati and Bedia communities. The dancers would be referred to as nachya, while a shahid or poet would be the sutradhar (narrator) of the performance. A typical tamasha performance begins with an offering made by the performers in front of the village temple in the morning, followed by a kushti, or wrestling competition, in the evening, after which the performance commences at night. Travelling tamasha companies visit villages and districts during annual fairs, with performances fixed on the basis of a pre-set sum. The performances usually take place in open spaces, featuring costumes characterised by the typical zari-lined nine-yard Maharashtrian saree, a kamarpatta (waist belt) and ornate jewellery consisting of large earrings, bangles and ghungroos (metallic bells) which are usually worn by lavani performers.
Some important tamasha performers today include Vithabai Narayangaonkar, Mangala Bansode, Raghuvir Khedekar, Kantabai Satarkar, Haribhau Badhe Nagarkar and Shivkanya Badhe Nagarkar. Artists such as Bansode, Khedekar and Sararkar have also formed their own tamasha troupes. In 2006, the government of Maharashtra constituted an award recognising tamasha artists, named the Vithabai Narayangaonkar Award.
The closure of public activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 severely affected the livelihood of tamasha and lavani performers, who relied on annual village festivals and fairs for their livelihood.
Our website is currently undergoing maintenance and re-design, due to which we have had to take down some of our bibliographies. While these will be re-published shortly, you can request references for specific articles by writing to helloma...@map-india.org.
Tamasha holds an exceptional place in my heart. I first saw the movie on my very first international trip from India to Canada in 2016. I immediately fell in love with the film; however, it took me a couple of years to completely appreciate its sheer beauty. It is a piece of art; and what complements the great script and seamless acting performances is the soundtrack. The music for Tamasha's soundtrack is composed by the exceptional A.R. Rahman, and the lyrics are written by the extraordinary Irshad Kamil. My relationship with Tamasha's album does not belong to the era of dating apps. It is not fast or in need of instant gratification. My involvement with the record is slow and profound. It took its time to grow but eventually stayed and became a part of my system. It would be very unfair for me to rank different compositions from Tamasha's soundtrack; however, I will discuss every song in the order of me falling in love with it.
Matargashti: 'Matargashti' was the first track released from the album. Performed by the outstanding Mohit Chauhan, 'Matargashti', in its very essence, captures the idea of a free spirit and a place of liberation. The song has an exotic vibe to it. Its beauty lies in the fact that the piece, both lyrically and structurally, breaks away from the conventional style of music production. The song simulates Ved's character on a high level: he has multiple shades of different characters in his personality and manages to break away from his stereotypical lifestyle towards the end of the film. The music is arranged so that the melody changes every few lines and adds surprise and spontaneity to the composition. Lyrically also the song breaks away from the monotony of narrating a complete tale in one piece. The mukhda discusses how the narrator feels tricked by life, and his playful storytelling adds entertainment to the composition. The antara of 'Matargashti' amalgamates many fictional characters from separate tales stressing that although characters, time, and places change with different stories, the story fundamentally remains the same, which is also one of the themes of Tamasha. Towards the end, there is a portion in the song where Ved's character breaks into a performance style similar to Dev Anand's and pays homage to the great actor while being his most authentic self. 'Matargashti', therefore, has much more to it than just being a funky Bollywood track. It adds to the story in an unconventionally offbeat style. To the listener, it makes one want to dance on the streets of a foreign land wearing casually glamorous clothes (credit to stylists Anaita Shroff Adajania's and Aki Narula). The song can take its audience to a place where their life doesn't feel compelled to fit into the traditional structures of society and caters to them a sense of enjoyment and liberation.
Chali Kahani: Sukhwinder Singh, Haricharan and Haripriya perform 'Chali Kahani', which is the theme of Tamasha in the form of a song. The absolute beauty of the music lies in Irshad Kamil's verses. Through its lyrics and music, 'Chali Kahani' narrates how popular tales from different countries, languages, and eras are fundamentally the same. Kamil displays his deep understanding of the great sagas and ties one story with another without any difficulty. A.R. Rahman expertly combines these stories and creates a piece that efficiently uses Sukhwinder Singh's exceptional abilities. The music is powerful enough to keep the audience engaged, and the impulse of the melody has the curiosity of the listeners growing. The overall feel of 'Chali Kahani' is of watching an actual tamasha of different stories and characters on stage.
Tu Koi Aur Hai: Sung by A.R. Rahman, Alma Ferovic and Arjun Chandy, 'Tu Koi Aur Hai' is a heartfelt song. Irshad Kamil, through the lyrics, asks the audience to examine their life choices. The song talks about how Ved's character tries to be someone that he isn't and the struggle that he goes through because of his preferences. The song is speaking to Ved, but it also requires the audience to ponder their personal decisions. The music is arranged to create a sense that it would pick up towards the end; however, the ending is powerful and serene at the same time. The lyrics provoke the listener to contemplate their life choices. At the same time, the ending manages to give you a sense of clarity. 'Tu Koi Aur Hai' is a gem that works to create conflict and resolution simultaneously. It is an excellent source of catharsis for the listeners through its meaningful lyrics and soulful melody.
Wat Wat Wat and Parade De La Bastille: Performed by Arijit Singh and Shahshwat Singh, 'Wat Wat Wat' is a funky track with addictive beats. The song has the potential to make its audience dance to its unusual yet quirky melody. Shashwat Singh shines in the Punjabi portions while Arijit Singh melodiously sings to the softer parts of the composition. Overall, the song is a fun track with a celebratory vibe to it. Through Parade De La Bastille, Rahman creates a sense of confusion by introducing a bit of Sufi music at the start; however, the composition later is highlighted by the beautiful use of drums, violins, and bagpipes. The melody of 'Matargashti' adds to the liveliness of the track, making it a fine piece.
The soundtrack of Tamasha consists of gems that will continue to be meaningful for years to come. Whether it's Rahman's experimental yet soulful music or Kamil's profound lyrics, the album has a lot to offer. It is one of the best records by the trio of A.R. Rahman, Imtiaz Ali and Irshad Kamil, and would continue to grow in its relevance and popularity as the years pass.
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