Theatre Forms Revision

8/20/2019 Theatre Forms Revision

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/theatre-forms-revision 1/5

Origins

• Origins of Indian theatre not very well known

• Drawings on caves show that dance, music and drama were an intrinsic part of the life of the people

• Sitabengona and Jogimara (Ramgarh, MP) have structures that are possibly the oldest theatres of the world

• IVC: a seal shows a person beating drum while other disguised as a tiger

• A few hymns of the Rig Veda are in the monologue and dialogue form

• Natyashastra evolved some guidelines for drama

Folk Theatre vs Classical Sanskrit TheatreTable 1

Classical Sanskrit Folk Modern

Place ofperformance Normally performed privately or semi-privately –in palaces or rich homes, or in temple courts Performed in open grounds or in pandals Auditoriums

Auditorium Design of auditorium described in Natyashastra.

Stage Use features like back-stage, front-stage, wings

and curtains

Themes Plays written by dramatists – well structured.

Themes of love, grief, myths etc

Folk legends and myths. Later themes

focusing on social conditions became

important

Dramas began to take up social themes,

voice political unrest, express resentment

against alien rule

Acting Actors use rich gesture language and facial

expressions to communicate effectively

atmosphere and situation

Spontaneous, simple and sometimes

crude. Combines music, dance and acting

Othercharacteristics

Standard form More regional in form



Prominent folk theatre forms

• Kerala

o Mudiyettu

Ritualistic dance drama

Performed annually in Kali temples Signifies triumph of good over evil as Kali vanquishes the demon Darika

Included in UNESCO list of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity (2010)

o

Krishnattam

o

Kudiyattam (Sanskrit theatre)

o Theyyam

• Assam

o

Anika Nat (one act play)

• Rajasthan

o

Bhavai

o

Khyal (dance drama)

• Haryana

o

Saang

• Kashmir

o

Jashin

• Himachal Pradesh

o

Karyala

• Maharashtra

o

Tamasha

•

TN: Therukkothu• Bengal, Orissa: Yatra

• Goa: Zatra

• UP: Nautanki

• MP: Macha



•

North India in general

o Rasleela

o Ramleela

Important Dramatists

Classical

• Asvaghosa - Buddhacharita

•

Kalidasa – Abhijnanasakuntalam, Meghduta, Kumarsambhava

• Bhasa - Madhyamavyayoga

• Shudrak - Mricchkatika

• Vishakahdatta - Madrarakshasa

• Bhavabhuti – Mahaveercharita

Modern

• Dinbandhu Mitra – Neeldarpan

• Aga Hashra Kashmiri (aka Indian Shakespeare?)

• Bhartendu Harishchandra

•

Jaishankar Prasad

• Habib Tanveer – Mitti ki Gadi, Charandas Chor

• Mohan Rakesh – Ashadha ka ek din

• Dharamveer Bharti – Andha Yug

• Vijay Tendulkar – Shantata Court Chalu Ahe, Ghasiram Kotwal

•

Girish Karnad – Tughlaq, Yayati•

Puppet Theatre

• Rajasthani Kathaputli



o

Legend of Amarsingh Rathore is very popular

• Orissa: Sakhi Kundhei

• Assam: Putla Nach

• Maharashtra: Malasutri Bahuly

•

Karnataka: Gombeyatta• TN: Bommalattam

• Kerala: Tolpavakoothy

•

AP: Tholu Bomalata

Modern Drama

• New theatre movement was initiated in Bengal and Maharashtra

•

Influence of Europeans• European plays translated and staged

• Themes: Dramas began to take up social themes, voice political unrest, express resentment against alien rule

o Deenbandhu Mitra’s Neeldarpan took the theme of the plight of the indigo plantation workers

o

Krishnaji Prabhakar Khadilkar’s Kichaka Vadha relected nationalist sentiments

• Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) became a part of the mass struggle of peasants, youth and workers

o

It was the cultural wing of the CPI

• Parsi theatre aimed at entertainment

• Maharashtra

o

Indian National Theatre

o

Prithvi Theatre



Government Initiatives

• National School of Drama, 1959

Documents

Theatre Forms Revision