Bollywood has flattened the art form of Lavani into homogenised item numbers. But the folk form has always throbbed with rhythm, resistance, and sensuality. In its lyrics were secrets of love, flirtations that refused gender’s grip, and performances that blurred the lines between the masculine and feminine. 

In Rang Birangi Lavani, a show premiering at Veda Kunba in Four Bungalows in Andheri on June 26, that tradition takes a unique interpretation with an acknowledgement of the queerness of the form, showcasing gender-fluid love stories.

Bhushan Korgaonkar, who published the book Sangeet Bari, on Lavani and its roots in 2014, takes on the role of co-writer and co-director for the act, along with Kunal Vijaykar. The Lavani performers are  Gauri Jadhav, Akshay Malvankar and Sopinath Patokar.

Korgaonkar and Vijaykar have backed the performance with care. Don’t mistake it for a reimagination, it is in fact an acknowledgement of the queerness of Lavani. “We had been thinking of showcasing queer stories for some time. Lavani just seemed to be the best way to bring those forward because the form is very fluid,” 
says Vijaykar.