27/07/2023
Mumal Singh writes about the art form “Tura Kalangi”
I was coordinator of a folk performing art festival at Jawahar kala Kendra, where I got to know about an amazing spontaneous performing art form called "Tura kalangi". I met the artists after the performance and decided that I want to know more about this form in 2019. I took the phone number of the artist, an old performer(Mirza Akbar Baig kagzi) with so much energy and gave me his number. I have started searching for the books and available material but sadly this form is not well documented till now, I have decided that I am going to document this form properly.
I read some articles sent by Mirza sahab during the COVID pandemic.
I have got to know about some books in 2021.
When I read them, I approached Mirza sir to make an informative video about this form.
I went there in 2021 to meet the Turra and Kalangi teams and their Ustaad ( leaders).
Tura kalangi are performed in chittor, Jhalawar. This style originated from the poetic creation. It was earlier performed with the prominence of poetic competition but it later took the form of folk theatre. There are two teams in this form, one is Tura and other is Kalangi, Kalangi followers are mostly muslim and the turra followers are Hindu and they practice together. Tura represents masculine power and kalangi represents feminine power. These poet philosophers were well versed in composing poetry in particular metre instantaneously. Lavni remained at the base of this duel and it was sung by the team facing each other. The best part is that these rural people talk about such a sensitive issue like gender in a poetic way, majorly male performers are there and they dress like females and dance also. Musicians are also there, one team talks about the beauty of men then another team comes with a point about the beauty of women and this goes on and on. I really wanted to document this art form by documenting performance, by collecting their verses for other people, this is a folk art form but still so relevant and contemporary. And only one professional group is left so I went to cover this art form.
I still cannot forget the energy of these folk performing artists, their knowledge, theri spontaneity of making verses during the competition.
I thought to share my experience with fellow theatre artists through this documentary.
Fellowship gave me such a creative opportunity to take time and reflect on my journey, I realised I want to work on folk performing art forms and theatre for community connection and conversations.
me along with my team Gautam Gupta and Vipin Jangir editing this informative documentary currently.
