Nautanki, Charkula & Swang

Nautanki — The People’s Theater

Nautanki is the most popular folk theater form of Uttar Pradesh and one of the most celebrated folk performance traditions of North India. It combines music, dialogue, drama, and dance to tell stories drawn from romance, history, and legend.

The name “Nautanki” is believed to derive from Princess Nautanki of Multan, whose love story with Phool Singh became one of the earliest and most performed Nautanki tales.

Origins and Spread

Nautanki emerged in the 18th–19th century from the Bhagat and Swang traditions of western UP. It became the dominant entertainment form in rural and semi-urban areas before cinema arrived. Even today, Nautanki troupes perform at fairs, weddings, and festivals across UP and neighboring states.

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Two Styles of Nautanki

Nautanki developed two distinct regional styles, each with its own artistic identity:

Hathras Style

Kanpur/Lucknow Style

Exam Tip: Hathras = Nagara drum + Fast. Kanpur = Harmonium + Melodious. Two styles, one art form.

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Famous Nautanki Stories

Nautanki performances draw from a rich repertoire of romantic legends, heroic tales, and moral stories:

Performance Elements

• Ranga — the opening invocation song
• Doha/Chaubola — poetic verses recited between scenes
• Lavani — rhythmic sung couplets that advance the narrative
• Nagara — the signature kettledrum whose beats punctuate every scene transition
• Vidushak — the comic character who provides satire and audience engagement

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Charkula — The Dance of 108 Lamps

Charkula is a breathtaking folk dance unique to the Braj region of western UP. It is one of the most visually spectacular folk dances in all of India.

What Makes Charkula Unique

A woman dancer balances a multi-tiered brass or wooden pyramid frame (charkula) holding 108 oil lamps on her head while performing graceful dance movements. The total weight can exceed 30–40 kilograms.

Exam Tip: Charkula = 108 lamps + Braj + Post-Holi Ashtami. The “108” number is a frequent exam question.

Performance Style

The dancer moves in slow, swaying circles while the Charkula frame stays perfectly balanced. Other women surround her, singing Rasiya folk songs about Radha-Krishna. The flickering oil lamps against the night sky create a mesmerizing visual — this is why Charkula performances always happen after sunset.

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Swang — The Satirical Folk Drama

Swang (also spelled Svang) is a folk dramatic form combining music, dialogue, and mimicry to deliver social commentary through humor and satire.

Key Features

Swang vs Nautanki

Swang performers were historically called Bhagatiyas and the art was closely tied to community gatherings at harvest festivals and local fairs.

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Decline and Revival Efforts

All three art forms have faced decline due to cinema, television, and urbanization. However, revival initiatives include:

• Sangeet Natak Akademi — awards and documentation of folk artists
• UP government cultural festivals — Lucknow Mahotsav, Taj Mahotsav feature Nautanki
• University departments — BHU and Agra University document and archive performances
• NGO initiatives — training new generations in Charkula and Nautanki

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Key Takeaways

• Nautanki is UP’s most popular folk theater, named after Princess Nautanki of Multan
• Two styles: Hathras (fast, nagara drum) and Kanpur/Lucknow (melodious, harmonium)
• Charkula is a Braj dance with 108 oil lamps balanced on the head, performed after Holi
• Swang is the satirical folk drama of western UP — a parent form of Nautanki
• The nagara drum is the signature instrument of Nautanki performances
• Charkula performances happen after sunset on the Ashtami following Holi

Summary Cheat Sheet