Swang, Uttar Pradesh - Informative & researched article on Swang, Uttar Pradesh
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Swang, Uttar Pradesh

It is a kind of folk-drama that is flourished with song and it is considered as a rich performance with literary wealth. Amateurs or new artists personify this folk drama and it is played either in the open or on the specially created platform. In all parts of Uttar Pradesh it is a popular art form, but even some hereditary actors from Haryana perform this art.

Though artists of Naqaals also perform such similar art, in Swang, the story is presented with a more interesting way including caustic comments, particularly related to current topics. Most of the dialogues that are used are traditional, but a lot of slick improvisation can also be found in the performance. The body language is a perfect foil that converts all the serious comments of the storyteller into something-stupid yet extremely funny kind of performance. The humor is lusty and seldom appeals to an urban audience at large.

The play of Swang begins with a Puravaranga, which is an invocation to the goddess Bhavani. For such a play, the stage is constructed in a circular manner and then it is generally performed in the open ground or space. There are very few people in the performance; a single performer performs many roles and the costumes are changed on the stage itself. Male actors play all parts since no women participants are allowed. Even the eunuch or the hijra is another essential character in these plays, which has to perform in all Margi (classical) and desi (folk Sanskrit) plays.

Music and dance is considered as an intrinsic part of this performance. Thus, at the centre, the musicians occupy the place on the stage, often getting up to sing and dance from that place itself. Scholars says that the main difference between Nautanki and Swang is that the Swang is intended to arouse religious sentiments for serious impact and the Nautanki is mainly a presentation of episodes depicting love and valour.

(Last Updated on : 18/11/2010)
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