Antakshari also known as Antyakshari is a spoken parlor game played in India. Each contestant sings the first verse of a song that begins with the Hindustaniconsonant on which the previous contestant's song selection ended.
Etymology
The word is derived from two Sanskrit words antya meaning end + akshar meaning letter of the alphabet. When these words are combined and an '-i' suffixed, the term means "The game of the ending letter". Due to schwa syncope in Hindi and other Indo-Aryan languages, Antyakshari is pronounced antaksh.ri.. A dialectical variation of the word is इन्ताक्षरी or Intakshri.
Origin
Antakshari was originally present in the Ramayana, where rishis sang the first verses of bhajanas continuously by singing another Bhajana beginning with the last letter of the ending word.
Rules
The game can be played by two or more people and is popular as a group activity during commutes, bus rides etc. The first singer has to sing two complete lines and then s/he may stop at the end of those or following lines. The last letter of the last word sung is then used by the next singer to sing another song, starting with that letter. The winner or winning team is decided by a process of elimination. The person or team that cannot come up with a song with the right consonant is eliminated if their opponents can produce such a song. The game is often kicked off with the consonant /m/ with the recitation of the following couplet which varies, but usually has wording similar to -
Baithe, baithe, kya karein? Karna hai kuch kaam, Shuru karo antakshri, leke prabhu ka naam!
This means that the first song must start with.
Songs have to be started from the last sound of the previous song.
Only songs from Hindustani classical music or Bollywood movies are allowed by default. Songs from other languages can be allowed with prior agreement.
At least the first verse of the song must be sung. If the singer does not remember it in entirety, they cannot use the song.
It started as a familypastime. Now there are several TV shows and competitions all over India based on it. The classic style is where two or more teams sing songs which start with last consonant letter of the song sung by previous team. When a team sings a song they earn points. A popular Indian television program by the same name has run successfully on Zee TV for over 10 years. Annu Kapoor was the permanent male host while female hosts included Durga Jasraj, Renuka Shahane, Pallavi Joshi, Shefali, Rajeshwari Sachdev & Richa Sharma. Contestants have ranged from school and college-goers to housewives, professionals and celebrities. Mr. Gajendra Singh is known as the Creator of Musical Reality shows in India, Talent Scout extraordinaire’ and a true Visionary who revolutionized the Indian Cable TV scene. He is the man behind conceptualizing 'Antakshari' as a TV show and creating history. The team names of the Zee TV show were Deewane, Parwane, and Mastane.
Example
आ चल के तुझे, मैं ले के चलूं, इक ऐसे गगन के तले जहां ग़म भी न हो, आँसू भी न हो, बस प्यार ही प्यार पले This song ends with ले, i.e. the consonant /l/ ल. The next contestant could sing - लग जा गले कि फिर ये हसीन रात हो न हो शायद फिर इस जनम में मुलाक़ात हो न हो
Example
Kehne ko jashn-e-bahaaraa hai, Ishq yeh dekh ke hairaan hai, Phool se khushboo khafa khafa hain gulshan mein, Chupa hai koi ranj fiza ki chilman mein. ' The next song should begin with /m/ : Mai zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya, Har fiqr ko dhuen mein uraata chala gaya, Barbadiyon ka sog manana fizool tha, Barbadiyon ka jashn manata chala gaya. ' The next song should begin with and so on.
Related games
is a related game played with Urdu poetry instead of movie songs. Several word chain games also resemble antakshri in their basic methodology.
