Jamoora
Encyclopedia
A jamoora or jamura is a performer who plays a specific type of sidekick
role in the traditional folk theatre (such as bhand
and tamasha
) of India
and Pakistan
. In the course of the performance, the jamoora is supposed to comply with every command given by his master (usually called the ustad, but sometimes called the madari or jadoogar for magic shows
), but often demonstrates subtle deviations from them to make satirical points or create a humorous effect.
Shows involving jamooras are often two-person performances and are usually called ustad-jamoora, madari-jamoora, ustad-bachha (bachha means child) or madari-chela (chela means follower/student) shows.
Sidekick
A sidekick is a close companion who is generally regarded as subordinate to the one he accompanies. Some well-known fictional sidekicks are Don Quixote's Sancho Panza, Sherlock Holmes' Doctor Watson, The Lone Ranger's Tonto, The Green Hornet's Kato and Batman's Robin.-Origins:The origin of the...
role in the traditional folk theatre (such as bhand
Bhand
Bhānds are the traditional folk entertainers of India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. In India and Nepal, the Bhand are now an endogamous Muslim community, which is no longer involved in their traditional occupation of folk entertainment...
and tamasha
Tamasha
Tamasha is a traditional Marathi folk art form. often with singing and dancing, widely performed by local or travelling theatre groups within the state of Maharashtra, India. It has also been the subject of several Marathi films...
) of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. In the course of the performance, the jamoora is supposed to comply with every command given by his master (usually called the ustad, but sometimes called the madari or jadoogar for magic shows
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
), but often demonstrates subtle deviations from them to make satirical points or create a humorous effect.
Shows involving jamooras are often two-person performances and are usually called ustad-jamoora, madari-jamoora, ustad-bachha (bachha means child) or madari-chela (chela means follower/student) shows.