History of Indian theatre Theatre of India

1 history of indian theatre

1.1 sanskrit theatre
1.2 theatre in medieval india
1.3 theatre in india under british
1.4 indian theatre after independence (1947-1992)

1.4.1 contemporary (post-1992) indian theatre
1.4.2 improvisation
1.4.3 notable theatres in india in different indian languages , regions

history of indian theatre
sanskrit theatre

the earliest-surviving fragments of sanskrit drama date 1st century ce. wealth of archeological evidence earlier periods offers no indication of existence of tradition of theatre. ancient vedas (hymns between 1500 , 1000 bce among earliest examples of literature in world) contain no hint of (although small number composed in form of dialogue) , rituals of vedic period not appear have developed theatre. mahābhāṣya patañjali contains earliest reference may have been seeds of sanskrit drama. treatise on grammar 140 bce provides feasible date beginnings of theatre in india.

the major source of evidence sanskrit theatre treatise on theatre (nātyaśāstra), compendium date of composition uncertain (estimates range 200 bce 200 ce) , authorship attributed bharata muni. treatise complete work of dramaturgy in ancient world. addresses acting, dance, music, dramatic construction, architecture, costuming, make-up, props, organisation of companies, audience, competitions, , offers mythological account of origin of theatre. in doing so, provides indications nature of actual theatrical practices. sanskrit theatre performed on sacred ground priests had been trained in necessary skills (dance, music, , recitation) in [hereditary process]. aim both educate , entertain.

performer playing sugriva in koodiyattam form of sanskrit theatre.

under patronage of royal courts, performers belonged professional companies directed stage manager (sutradhara), may have acted. task thought of being analogous of puppeteer—the literal meaning of sutradhara holder of strings or threads . performers trained rigorously in vocal , physical technique. there no prohibitions against female performers; companies all-male, all-female, , of mixed gender. sentiments considered inappropriate men enact, however, , thought better suited women. performers played characters own age, while others played ages different own (whether younger or older). of elements of theatre, treatise gives attention acting (abhinaya), consists of 2 styles: realistic (lokadharmi) , conventional (natyadharmi), though major focus on latter.

its drama regarded highest achievement of sanskrit literature. utilised stock characters, such hero (nayaka), heroine (nayika), or clown (vidusaka). actors may have specialised in particular type. kālidāsa arguably considered india s greatest sanskrit dramatist, writing in ca. 4th century ce-ca. 5th century ce. 3 famous romantic plays written kālidāsa mālavikāgnimitram (mālavikā , agnimitra), vikramuurvashiiya (pertaining vikrama , urvashi), , abhijñānaśākuntala (the recognition of shakuntala). last inspired story in mahabharata , famous. first translated english , german. Śakuntalā (in english translation) influenced goethe s faust (1808–1832).

the next great indian dramatist bhavabhuti (c. 7th century ce). said have written following 3 plays: malati-madhava, mahaviracharita , uttar ramacharita. among these three, last 2 cover between them entire epic of ramayana. powerful indian emperor harsha (606-648) credited having written 3 plays: comedy ratnavali, priyadarsika, , buddhist drama nagananda.

theatre in medieval india

based on understanding performing arts audience-oriented , must continuously adapt socio-cultural landscape of patronage. northern india managed retain cultural traditions in spite of new turko-persian influences.

bhakti poetry became popular.

theatre in india under british

under british colonial rule, modern indian theatre began when theatre started in belgachia. rabindranath tagore pioneering modern playwright wrote plays noted exploration , questioning of nationalism, identity, spiritualism , material greed. plays written in bengali , include chitra (chitrangada, 1892), king of dark chamber (raja, 1910), post office (dakghar, 1913), , red oleander (raktakarabi, 1924).

kalyanam raghuramaiah, recipient of sangeet natak akademi award, , padmashri, known roles of krishna or dushyantha, bhavanisankar, narada etc. in telugu theatre. performed roles 60 years. indulged in elaborate raga alapana, based on different ragas while rendering padyams. ahead of times - tirupati . hindu. 2013-05-10. retrieved 2016-05-30. </ref> 1 of finest method actors, had ability sing padyams , songs through whistle, putting finger in mouth , producing whistle or flute sound (meaning eela in telugu). has acted in various dramas , gave more 20,000 stage performances. called nightingale of stage rabindranath tagore

the british believed indian actors mystical creatures. believed brought them luck , prosperity.

indian theatre after independence (1947-1992)
contemporary (post-1992) indian theatre

mrityunjay prabhakar 1 of major young hindi theatre director , playwright emerged on indian theatre scene in last decade of 20th century , established himself significant theatre activist in first decade of 21st century. started theatre career patna during graduation days. has worked several theatre groups abhiyan, prerna, mach art group , prangan in patna. later, co-founded group abhiyan along friends. when arrived delhi further studies in jawaharlal nehru university, new delhi. here worked famous groups rang saptak, bahroop , dastak. later founded own group named sehar in 2005 , started working rigorously. has got trained under leading figures of indian drama , theatre world through different workshops attended habib tanvir, b.v. karanth, prasanna, ratan thiyam, d. r. ankur , many more. has worked directors d.r. ankur, lokendra arambam, h.s. shiva prakash, surendra sharma, parvez akhtar, vijay kumar, javed akhtar khan, suman kumar , others. has worked actor, director, set designer, light designer , organiser in theatre. presently, mrityunjay prabhakar works theatre director , playwright group sehar. founder-director of theatre troupe, sehar (society of education, harmony, art, culture , media reproduction) (registered under society act) in 2007. has directed more 2 dozens plays among them sabse udas kavita , khwahishen , jee humen natak karna hai , dhruvswamini , vithalala , suicide have got special attention larger section of society. plays has been performed in different cities , theatre centres of country apart delhi. plays part of of important theatre festivals of country. mrityunjay prabhakar s written play sadho dekho jag baudana published inklit publication. has written famous plays aao natak natak khelen , khwahishen , jee humen natak karna hai , suicide , hey ram , teri meri kahani hai , karnav , others, has been performed different groups , directors in various theatre centres of country. has adopted famous keniyan playwright ngugi wa thiong s play black hermit jayen jayen kahan . adoptation first performed nsd graduate randhir kumar in 2005 in patna. later reproduced play in 2010 sehar in delhi. has adopted h.s. shivaprakash famous kannad play mochi madaiah in hindi directed lokendra arambam , published yash publication, delhi. anthology on contemporary indian theatre titled samkaleen rangkarm credited on name published inklit publication. hindi poetry collection jo mere bheetar hain published akademi of letters (sahitya akademi), india.

saurabh srivastava versatile theatre worker has been active in different parts of country since 1980, acting , directing in plays in allahabad, varanasi, lucknow, kanpur, delhi, vadodara, hyderabad, jodhpur , jaipur. working campus theatre, creative arts, apurva society etc., saurabh srivastava has directed more 2 dozen hindi plays , presented hundreds of shows in different cities. literary interpretation, mature insight, penetrating vision , ability communicate essence audience of strengths of saurabh s style , vision of theatrical presentation. active in jaipur.

improvisation

improvisational (also known improv or impro) form of theatre in actors use improvisational acting techniques perform spontaneously. improvisers typically use audience suggestions guide performance create dialogue, setting, , plot extemporaneously.

many improvisational actors work scripted actors , improv techniques taught in standard acting classes. basic skills of listening, clarity, confidence, , performing instinctively , spontaneously considered important skills actors develop.

improvisational theatre in india largely used educational, interventional , entertainment purposes. traces of improvisational theatre in india dates 1990s advent of forum theatre janasanskriti under leadership of sanjoy ganguly. after in 1999, team bev hoskins , mary introduced playback theatre india. playback theatre , forum theatre began take shape in remotest parts of india, such karur, chennai, west bengal, bangalore too. yours theatre, bangalore-based group, developed complete story , indigenous format of improvisational theatre developed under leadership of ranji david , nandini rao in 2006. in 2009, developed form of improvisational theatre called mushyara theatre .

in late 1960s badal sircar introduced new form of political theatre called third theatre. badal sarkar s anti-establishment experimental theatre created new genre of social enlightenment. formed first third theatre group satabdi,in year 1967. used perform drama written badal sircar in anganmancha (theatre in courtyard) in third theatre form break away tradition of 1 point view of procesnium , urged on taking theatre people.

improvisational theatre groups in india:

yours theatre
sehar
grim pumpkin production

improvisational theatre forms practiced in india:

playback theatre
theatre of oppressed
forum theatre

notable theatres in india in different indian languages , regions

kannada theatre
malayalam theatre
marathi theatre
bengali theatre
hindi theatre
telugu drama
bhojpuri




^ brandon (1981, xvii) , (1998, 516-517).
^ richmond (1998, 516).
^ richmond (1998, 517).
^ brandon (1981, xvii) , richmond (1998, 517).
^ richmond (1998, 518).
^ richmond (1998, 518). literal meaning of abhinaya carry forwards .
^ brandon (1981, xvii).
^ https://doi-org.ledproxy2.uwindsor.ca/10.1177/097194589900200105
^ banham (1998, 1051).
^ pranaism: తెలుగు నాటకరంగ ప్రముఖుల ఫోటోలు (సశేషం) . pranaism.blogspot.in. retrieved 2016-05-30. 
^ cite error: named reference auto3 invoked never defined (see page).
^ article in eenadu http://beta.eenadu.net/cinema/cinemainner.aspx?qry=gnapaka
^ sharma, shrikrishna, ed. 1996. rangkarmi. cultural societies of rajasthan. (1996, 139)