TAMASHA:FOLK FORM OF WESTERN INDIA

Music and musical instruments

Tamasha troupes traditionally consisted of two untouchable communities of Mahars and Mangs. Various roles were assigned to the members of particular professions. The butcher, a Muslim would play the dholki; the carpenter would play the daf (a kind of drum) whilst the Brahmins would compose the verse.

Picture courtesy; google image

The Shahir was accompanied by a band of musicians. The instruments traditionally used the dholki, daf and tuntune (single stringed instruments), cymbals and an iron triangle used to beat the rhythm. The instrumentalists are singers as well, who join in the refrain in high pitched voices. There is also the surtya who provides the drone. In the time of the Peshwas, the last phase was the mujra which consisted of homage in verse to noted shahirs and saints. Today, one finds very few examples of mujra. The musical compositions of the Tamasha manifest the typical phenomenon of the simultaneous use of the Raga system and the incorporation of several folk melodies. Amongst the Ragas, Yaman, Bairavi, and Pilu are common.