Panchali

Panchali a genre of narrative folk songs. The word, panchali, originates from panchal or panchalika, meaning puppet. Others believe that the word refers to the five elements of this genre: song, music, extempore versifying, poetic contests, and dance. In earlier times it also included a puppet dance. In the 18th-19th centuries, the puppet dance was dropped. Instead, the main singer would dance, wearing nupur (anklet bells), and holding a flywhisk and cymbals. At times he would act the part of different characters. The ramayana, mahabharata, mangalkavya and similar narrative verses were often recited in the style of panchali. Some legends also used to be recited in a similar fashion.

Panchali subjects include ancient legends and folk tales as well as contemporary topics. One principal singer would enact the main story with recitation, rhymes and songs. In course of the evolution of the panchali, more singers joined the principal singer to play such instruments as mrdanga (tabor), dhol (drum) and kanshi (bell-metal gong).

The panchali underwent some changes towards the close of the 18th century when poetic contests, physical gestures and acting were introduced. In the 19th century dialogue for the principal singer was added as was the character of a clown who used to generate laughter by mimicking different social oddities through songs, recitation of rhymes or dances. Most popular among the social issues were remarriage of women, income tax problems, and the members of Young Bengal who were opposed to idol worship. The panchali later gave birth to the popular jatra songs.
dasharathi roy was a famous panchali composer. He used to be a professional kaviyal or versifier. Dasharathi Roy's panchali helped make the common people interested in education, literature and religion as well as to become socially conscious. The influence of kavigan may be noticed in the panchali of manomohan bose. Some other famous panchali composers of the time were Thakurdas Dutta (1801-1876), Rasikchandra Ray (1820-1892), Brajamohan Ray (1831-1876), Rasikchandra Goswami, Nandalal Ray and Krishnakamal Goswami. Famous panchali include Shitalar Panchali and Satyanarayan or Satyapirer Panchali.

Rupchand Pakshi(Rupchand The Bird)

Rupchand Pakshi(Rupchand The Bird) (1815/1818-1890) composer and singer born in Kolkata, where his father, Gour Hari Das Mahapatra, resided. Their ancestral home was near the Chilka Lake in Orissa.
Rupchand grew up in Kolkata and studied at Hare School. A natural singer, he learnt music from Chhotey Miah, Chhoti Khan, Ramchandra Banerjee, Golam Abbas Tabalchi, Shetari Pannu Miah and others. He had a melodious voice and became popular from PANCHALI, Kabigan, and Dhap. He was also famous for his devotional songs based on the Radha-Krishna stories as well as for funny and satiric songs on contemporary events. In fact he was more skilled in composing this second group of songs which greatly attracted audiences. A collection of his songs, Sangit Rasakallol published in his life time include 211 songs including Panchali, Half-Akhdai, Dhap, JATRA, Kavigan, GAJAN's song etc.
At the beginning of his singing career, he used the names 'Pakshi(Bird)', 'Khagbar(King of Birds)', 'Khagraj' etc. He also formed a panchali group with the name of 'Pakshir Jatimala'. Accordingly, he was popularly known as the 'Rupchand Pakshi'.
Rupchand's songs reveal his poetic ability, depth of knowledge of Bangla, and high aesthetic sense. At the same time he composed amusing songs in a mixture of English and Bangla; for example, 'Let me go ore dvari, I visit to Bangshidhari', and 'Amare friend kare, kaliya ram tui kotha geli'.