The Alkap Story

A traditional form of mass communication from Murshidabad, Alkap was used to raise awareness about social injustices and taboos. Today, however, the lack of financial support and influences of popular culture is rendering the original Alkap almost extinct. Alkap is a folk song and a dance tradition of Bengal. In this form, performers just have a notion of the plot and the actual performance takes place as an improvisation in the manner of Italian "Commedia del Arte." The performers are divided into two groups that evokes a verbal argument and when the limits of oral exchange is reached, the play begins to evoke a sexual humor. Traditionally, the plays were often performed outside the jurisdiction area because of the sexual connotation within the play. Today the roles that men traditionally played in the plays, by cross
dressing as women are slowly being taken over by women and traditional tunes are being replaced by Bengali film songs- rendering the original Alkap almost extinct.

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