Hyderabad's 'Bahurupia Gali': A Lost Legacy of Nizam Era Artists

• Bahurupia Gali in Husaini Alam, Old Hyderabad, was a vibrant center for Bahurupia artists during the Nizam era.
• These artists, skilled in disguise and acting, held special status under the 'Arbab-e-Nishat' (Entertainment Department) and were even used as spies.
• Municipal maps from 1913 recorded 'Bahurupia Lane' and 'Bahurupia Kaccha Street', highlighting their organized community.
• Post-1948, with the end of royal patronage, artists faced severe hardship, leading to mass migration to cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Pune.
• Today, Bahurupia Gali has lost its historical identity, and the art form is largely confined to fairs, a rich legacy buried by changing times.

Why It Matters: Hyderabad's Bahurupia Gali, once a hub for unique artists, is now a forgotten legacy due to lost patronage.