Sangeet Natak Akademi presents "Rajyogi Bharthari – Mach (Madhya Pradesh)" video screening as part of Sanchayan - Screening of archival films & video recordings at Meghdoot Theatre, Rabindra Bhavan, 35, Ferozeshah Road > 4pm on 20th June 2015

Time : 4:00 pm Add to Calendar 20/06/2015 16:00 20/06/2015 17:00 Asia/Kolkata Sangeet Natak Akademi presents "Rajyogi Bharthari – Mach (Madhya Pradesh)" video screening as part of Sanchayan - Screening of archival films & video recordings Event Page : http://www.delhievents.com/2015/06/sangeet-natak-akademi-presents-rajyogi.html Meghdoot Theatre, Rabindra Bhavan, 35, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi-110001 DD/MM/YYYY

Duration : 60 minutes

Entry : Free (Seating on First-Come First-Served basis)

Venue : Meghdoot Theatre, Rabindra Bhavan, 35, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi-110001

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Event Description : Sangeet Natak Akademi presents "Rajyogi Bharthari – Mach (Madhya Pradesh)" video screening as part of Sanchayan - Screening of archival films & video recordings.

Malwa Natya Mach Mandal, Ujjain 
Rang Swarn 2003, Meghdoot Theatre Complex, New Delhi

Mach is a popular folk theatre form largely practised in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh over the past two hundred years. It is believed that Mach was given its present form by Guru Shri Gopalji who migrated to Malwa from Rajasthan, and composed the lyrics and dialogues in the local Malwi dialect.
The name Mach originates from Manch, the stage. A week before the performance, the flagstaff, or stage pole, is fixed in place according to the old Sanskrit tradition, and the guru, generally the playwright-actor, performs the ceremonial worship. The stage is open on all sides. In earlier times it had an extension where the village nobility and officials sat. There was also an arrangement for instrumentalists to sit at another stage level.

Synopsis : The play begins with the entire cast on stage in full costume and make-up, their hands folded and their eyes shut, singing the invocation. The Bhishti (water carrier) sprinkles water and sanctifies the stage. The Farrason (attendant) spreads a carpet. 
The Bhishti and Farrason act out these services while singing the glory of their functions. Then the play introduces the characters, and sets the mood. 
Most of the actors in Mach are from the artisan class; the female roles are played by male actors (the one exception has been a woman, Babajan, who appeared in heroic roles and wore a turban and a loose-sleeved shirt).The dialogue of the characters always ends with a refrain, sung by the instrumentalists and the actors, and punctuated by the Dholak (drum). The language is traditionally Malwi, although now Hindi is also being used. The Dhol has a prominent place in Mach as an accompanying instrument and is played along with the Naqqara. Rhythm plays an important part both in the lines recited and sung by the actors. Much of the dialogue is in verse. Dance too has an important role in Mach.

Background : Over the past six decades, Sangeet Natak Akademi has built up an archive of audio and video tapes, photographs, slides and films on the performing arts.
Click here to read more about Sanchayan - Screening of archival films and video recordings.

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