Chhilaa Chhaul : A Garhwali Lyrical-Prose Drama based on Folk Songs

Chhilaa Chhaul : A Garhwali Lyrical-Prose Drama based on Folk Songs

(Review of ‘Chhailaa Chhaul छैलाअ छौळ’ a Garhwali Lyrical- Prose Drama by Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna)

(Notes on Indian Lyrical Drama, Himalayan Lyrical Drama, Uttarakhandi Lyrical Drama, Garhwali Lyrical Drama, Hundred Years of Modern Garhwali Dramas)

                                         Bhishm Kukreti

               Badi-Badan were the real source of creating folk drama and folk songs in Garhwal from medieval time. Badi -Badan used to create instant drama and used to play. That is why it is said, ’Badyun k Swang’.  Their dramas used to be with lyrical folk songs with less prose (Kukreti, Chitthi-Patri). Their dramas used to be of contemporary subject and very agile that a dead man would rise from pyre.

                       Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna took cue from the centuries old custom of Bad-Badan‘s swang and published a Garhwali Drama ‘Chhailaa Chhaul छैलाअ छौळ’ in ‘Uttarakhand saptahik, Muni ki reeti, 1959.

    The style is hundred percent ‘Badi-Badan Swang’ of Garhwal. The dialogues are just Badi-Badan use them while singing and dancing. The following dialogue by Sutrdhar is enough to prove the style :

सूत्रधार -- सामन्या ठाकुरों ! सामन्या साब! हाथ पर जान्ठो काँध मा बाघ. घुण्ड -घुञडो

की दाळ, कमर कमर को भात - पंडिजी की फेंकड़ी फ्यान जजमान जी कि ध्येंगणि

ध्याँ (डमडम, डमडम डमडम .....)

पोरु का पिण्डाळू खाड, ऐन्सू का पिण्डाळू खाड - पिण्डाळू खाड का खाड -अर अब

पिण्डाळू को भेळपापड़ो , भेळपापड़ा को मीन अर मीन का खजेणा दीन ----(डमडम, डमडम डमडम .....)

                  The drama is based on the lyrical folk story of Sangramu Budya. The playwright has been successful in creating balance between love rapture and social norms. The dialogues are of theatrical style as found in ‘Bhakt Prahlad’. The drama creates humor rapture due to story of old man Sangramu Budya and young   Govindi. There is another character Banva in the drama who also loves Govindi.

                The drama ‘Chhailaa Chhaul छैलाअ छौळ’ is enjoyable.

References:

1-Dr Anil Dabral, Garhwali Gady Parampara (Garhwali Dramas from beginning till 1990)

2-Abodh Bandhu Bahuguna, Gad Myateki Ganga (Garhwali dramas from beginning till 1975)

3-Dr Sudharani, Garhwal ka  Rangmanch (Garhwali Dramas from beginning till 1985)

4-Drama special issue of Chitthi Patri magazine (Garhwali Dramas and plays staged in Delhi, Karachi, Mumbai, Dehradun and other places)

5- Dr Hari Datt Bhatt Shailesh, Garhwali Natak evam Rangmanch: Ek Vihngam Avlokan (Garhwali Drams and theatres from beginning till 1985)

6-Dr Bhakt Darshan: Barrister Mukandi Lal Srmriti Granth (Garhwali dramatists or theatres playwrights till 1985

7-Dr Nand Kishor Dhoundiyal, Garhwal ki Divangat Vibhutiyan (pp108-116, about contribution of Bhagwati Prasad Panthri for developing Garhwali drama)

Copyright@ Bhishm Kukreti , Mumbai, India

 

Notes on Indian Lyrical Drama, Himalayan Lyrical Drama, Uttarakhandi Lyrical Drama, Garhwali Lyrical Drama, Hundred Years of Modern Garhwali Dramas to be continued