Gammat Theatre and Pandvani Folk Ballads of Chattisgarh
Theater is known as Gammat in Chhattisgarh. Pandvani is one of the lyrical forms of this theater. Several acclaimed plays of Habib Tanvir, such as Charandas Chor, are variations of Chhattisgarhi Theater, and heavily use Chhatttisgarhi folk songs and music.
Nacha: Folk Theatre of Chattisgarh
Nacha, is a kind of folk theatre found in the entire state of Chhattisgarh in India except Bastar and Sarguja region. Although there are four different forms of Nacha, Khare Saaj Nacha; Gandawa Nacha; Dewar Nacha and Baithe Saaj Nacha, the troupes performing Khare Saaj, Dewar or Gandawa Nacha are very few. The most popular form today is Baithe Saaj Nacha. Comedy is an essential and a most entertaining aspect of the Nacha folk theatre. The humorous skits of Nacha also incorporate themes on social issues to create awareness.
Source IGNCA Inventory of ICH, Janapada Sampada Division, IGNCA
Contributed by Aditya, CEE Ahmedabad
Pandavani Folk Ballads of Chhattisgarh
Pandavani (literally meaning 'songs of the Pandavas'), is a lyrical folk ballad form that narrates the story of the Pandavas. Pandavani theatre usually has a lead artist and some supporting singers and musicians. There are two styles of narration in Pandavani - Vedamati and Kapalik. In the Vedamati style, the lead artist narrates the story in a simple manner, sitting on the floor throughout the performance. The Kapalik style is livelier, with the narrator enacting the incidents and characters.