Pune: In a significant boost for Maharashtra’s folk theatre industry, 310 Loknatya (folk theatre) contracts have been finalized over the past month at the Vithabai Narayangaonkar Tamasha Kala Pandhari in Narayangaon, Pune district. These agreements, signed by 31 major and minor Tamasha troupe owners, have collectively generated an estimated ₹5 crore in business transactions.
The festival season has spurred intense activity at the site, with yatra (festival) committee heads actively negotiating and finalizing contracts. While larger Tamasha troupes are in high demand, smaller, seasonal troupe owners are anticipating additional contracts post-Gudi Padwa.
Narayangaon has long been regarded as the primary hub for Tamasha troupes in Maharashtra. The Vithabai Narayangaonkar Tamasha Kala Pandhari officially commenced contract negotiations on February 20, 2025, with troupe owners setting up elaborate and colorful display tents to attract festival organizers.
Each tent prominently showcases the troupe’s name, lead artists, singers, dancers, and comedians through banners and photographs. To facilitate smooth contract discussions, the tents are furnished with cushions, chairs, fans, and air coolers, ensuring a comfortable setting for the negotiations. The visually striking tents along the Pune-Nashik highway have been drawing significant attention from passersby.
Large-Scale Tamasha Troupes in High Demand
Festival organizers from various villages are vying for the most renowned Tamasha troupes to perform at their events. Some of the most sought-after troupes include those led by Vithabai Narayangaonkar, Mangala Bansode, Pandurang Mule, Tukaram Khedkar, Chandrakant Dhavalpurikar, Malati Inamdar, Kalubalu, Bhika Bhima Sangvikar, Anand Loknatya, Datta Mahadik, Anjaliraje Nashikkar, Sandhya Mane, Shivkanya Bade, Deepali, Surekha Punekar, and Jagan Kumar Velvandkar.
These large-scale troupes, with over 100 artists and multiple transport vehicles, have each secured between 20 to 35 contracts for the upcoming season. In contrast, smaller seasonal troupes, comprising 50 to 60 members, have signed between five to ten contracts so far. However, industry insiders anticipate that demand for smaller troupes will rise once the major bookings are completed.
Large Tents vs. Seasonal Troupes
Tamasha performances are categorized into two formats:
Tent-Based Large Troupes (Tambu Fad) – These consist of 100 to 150 members, including singers, dancers, musicians, and performers.
Seasonal Small Troupes (Hingami Fad) – Smaller groups with fewer members and modest setups.
Given their grandeur, tent-based troupes are the preferred choice for festival committees with higher budgets. This year, contracts for major tent-based Tamasha performances have been signed for amounts ranging between ₹2.5 lakh and ₹4 lakh per show, according to troupe owners Avishkar Mule, Mohit Sawant, Kiran Kumar Dhavalpurikar, and Sambhaji Raje Jadhav.
Prime Festival Dates Fully Booked
Several major festival dates have already been secured by Tamasha troupes, including:
Ram Navami – April 6
Chaitra Purnima – April 12
Kala Ashtami – April 21
Akshaya Tritiya – April 30
Maharashtra Day – May 1
Tamasha Contracting Process: Key Steps
The contract specifies show timings, transportation details, stage setup, song selection, number of artists, and performance elements.
Festival organizers formally sign the agreement, which is locally referred to as "Supari".
An initial advance payment (Bidagi) is made to the troupe owner upon signing the contract.
The remaining amount is paid after the performance. If the show is canceled due to disruptions, the full contract amount is still payable.
For these peak dates, large troupe performances have been contracted for ₹2.5 lakh to ₹3.5 lakh per show, while seasonal troupe contracts range between ₹1 lakh and ₹1.5 lakh.
The Tamasha season runs from April 1 to May 15, with bookings happening at an unprecedented pace. This year, all 45 available performance slots until May 13 have already been secured via phone reservations, without the need for in-person negotiations.
Notably, in Chouphula (Daund Taluka), villagers booked the Kala Ashtami performance for ₹4 lakh for the Bhairavnath Yatra, highlighting the growing demand for Loknatya performances.
