Modern Indian Theatre – UPSC Notes – Art and Culture

Modern Indian theatre underwent significant transformations during the colonial era, marking the advent of post-medieval and modern expressions. This evolution was fueled by the availability of translations of ancient Sanskrit texts and Western classics. Adaptations of works by Shakespeare and Gotthold Ephraim Lessing played a pivotal role in shaping the theatrical landscape.

The burgeoning urban centers like Calcutta and Madras contributed to the demand for new forms of entertainment. Consequently, in the 18th and 19th centuries, the Western Proscenium style of theatre gained prominence. This period saw the emergence of various modern theatrical expressions, including plays and musical theatre.

Furthermore, the genres of ballet and opera became integral components of theatre, incorporating diverse traditions such as acting, costumes, and staging into their artistic fabric. Together, these developments reflected the dynamic evolution of Indian theatre during this transformative period.

Modern Indian Theatre – Overview

• In the nineteenth century, numerous theatres emerged in Calcutta, including Belgachia Natyashala and Shobhabazar Natyashala.
• Indians developed a distinctive theatrical style during the British era, incorporating elements from both Western and Indian traditions.
• Unlike the ancient past when theatre was accessible to all, theatres became commercialized, with a cost imposed on audience members.
• Social issues like dowry, caste, religious hypocrisy, and political matters were frequently explored in theatrical productions.
• Responding to the growing political awareness, the British government implemented the Dramatic Performances Act in 1876.

Modern Indian Theatre – Parsi Theatres

• Between the 1850s and 1920s, Parsi Theatres thrived in Western India, showcasing plays in regional languages such as Gujarati and Marathi.
• Vital components of these productions included captivating music and vibrant backdrops.
• The thematic spectrum spanned from romance and comedy to compelling melodrama.
• The advent of cinema in the 1930s prompted many Parsi producers to shift their focus to filmmaking.

IPTA – Indian People’s Theatre Association

• Formed in 1943 as the artistic arm of the Communist Party, the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) left an enduring impact despite its dissolution in 1947.
• IPTA addressed pressing societal issues, exemplified by their plays on the Bengal Famine.
• Eminent personalities such as Balraj Sahni, Prithviraj Kapoor, Bijon Bhattacharya, Ritwik Ghatak, and Utpal Dutt were integral to IPTA’s legacy.
• IPTA continues to be active in regions like Chhattisgarh, Punjab, and West Bengal.

Other Modern Indian Theatres

• Bengali, Maharashtra, and various regional theatres gained prominence.
• Rabindranath Tagore, a celebrated dramatist, penned his first play, Valmiki Pratibha, at the age of 20.
• Notable works by Tagore include Roktokoribi (Red Oleanders), Chitrangada, Post-Office, exploring themes like nationalism, spirituality, and the contemporary sociopolitical environment.
• Figures like Prasanna Kumar Thakur, Girishchandra Ghosh, and Dinabandhu Mitra (author of Nildarpan) played significant roles in this theatrical landscape.
• In 1944, Prithviraj Kapoor established the Prithvi Theatre, a mobile theatre that hosted over 2000 productions with a troupe of 150 performers.
• Mumbai saw the debut of its first permanent theatre in 1978, which remains operational today.
• The Sangeet Natak Akademi, founded in 1952, aimed to promote performing arts, particularly theatre, fostering its growth in India.
• Under the guidance of Ibrahim Alkazi, the National School of Drama contributed to the development of notable theatre figures.
• In 1969, Heisnam Kanhailal established Kalakshetra Manipur in Manipur to preserve ancient theatre traditions.
• Ratan Thiyam founded the renowned Chorus Repertory Theatre in 1976.

Famous Personalities of Modern Indian Theatre

• Samsa (Sami Venkatadri Iyer) and Adya Rangachary are renowned Kannada playwrights and dramatists.
• Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa, also known as Kuvempu, is a prominent Karnataka actor-playwright.
• Other notable theatre personalities include:
  • Subrahmanya Bharathiar from Tamil Nadu.
  • Veeresalingam Pantulu from Andhra Pradesh.
  • Sreekandan Nair, Bharatendu Harishchandra, and Jaishankar Prasad from Kerala.
• BV Karanth is celebrated for his contributions to theatre in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh.
• KV Subbanna founded the acclaimed NINASAM theatre group and is a Ramon Magsaysay award winner.
• Additional notable modern personalities include:
  • Indira Parthasarathy
  • Girish Karnad
  • Habib Tanvir
  • Vijay Tendulkar
  • Badal Sarkar
  • Vijaya Mehta
  • Dharmavir Bharati
  • Mohan Rakesh
  • Chandrashekhar Kambar
  • P Lankesh

Modern Indian Theatre and Nationalism

A significant trend in modern Indian plays was the fusion of nationalism with contemporary social realities. An early exemplar of this genre was the acclaimed Bengali play “Neel Darpan” by Dinabandhu Mitra, highlighting the forced cultivation of indigo imposed on native planters by British imperialism. This play marked the emergence of a newfound consciousness of nationalism.

Assamese plays by Padmanath Gohai Barua (Lochit Barfukan), Lahshmikant Bejbarua (Ckakradhwaj Singhj), and Bimlanand Barua (Sharai Ghat) also stood as powerful expressions of nationalist sentiments. In Tamil, Pavler contributed nationalist plays like “Khadrin Verdri” and “Desheeya Koti”. The Malayalam nationalist tradition found expression through the works of V.T. Bhattiripad, K. Damodaran, Govindan, Ittasheri, S.L. Puran, and K.T. Muhammad.

In Hindi, Bhartendu Harishchandra wrote nationalist satires such as “Bharat Durdasha,” “Bharat Janani,” and “Andher Nagri.” This tradition found its culmination in the plays of Jai Shankar Prasad.

During the 19th century, Indian intellectuals recognized that India’s degeneration was not solely due to foreign rulers but also stemmed from social evils and superstitions within Indian society. Playwrights of this period used their craft to criticize those blindly imitating the West. Their works took aim at the caste system, child marriage, dowry, false notions of pride and prestige, prostitution, untouchability, and various other social ills, reflecting a profound understanding of the societal challenges of the time.

Post-Independence Plays

• The post-independence era marked significant transformations in both the style and content of Indian plays.
• The aftermath of the Second World War and the partition of the subcontinent had a profound impact on Indian society, shattering the widely shared optimism for a brighter future post-independence.

Societal Changes:

• Society underwent rapid changes fueled by scientific and industrial advancements, impacting the prevailing value systems.
• These societal shifts manifested in Indian plays, influenced notably by the increased accessibility to foreign plays in languages other than English.
• Influences included Brecht from Germany, Gogol and Chekhov from Russia, and Sartre from France.
• Notable practitioners of this trend were Badal Sarkar in Bengali, Vijay Tendulkar in Marathi, and Girish Karnad in Kannada.
• The new plays demonstrated a receptivity to experimental approaches, departing from the previous inclination for lengthy five-act plays with numerous scenes condensed into one act.

Historical Plays:

• Historical plays of the pre-independence era sought to invoke national pride, but the new historical plays took a different approach.
• Works by Uttam Barua (Varja Fuleshwari, Assamese), P. Lankesh (Sankranti, Kannada), Girish Karnad (Tughlaq, Hindi), Vijay Kumar Mishra (Tat Niranjan, Oriya), Mohan Rakesh (Ashadh Ka Ek Din, Hindi), Jagdish Chandra Mathur (Pahla Rqja, Hindi), and Sant Singh Sekhon (Mohu Sar Na Kai, Punjabi) reflected this shift.

Thematic Content:

• In the post-independence era, mythological forms were employed to portray complex human emotions and dilemmas.
• The focus on social plays persisted, now expanded to encompass new social problems and themes.
• Thematic content delved into pressing issues such as economic disparity, frustrations, challenges faced by women, plight of the dalits and the depressed, Hindu-Muslim relations, struggles in rural life, dehumanization in urban settings, middle-class hypocrisy, and clashes between new and old values.

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FAQs on Modern Indian Theatre

1. How did the post-independence period influence the style and content of Indian plays in Modern Indian Theatre?

Answer: The post-independence period brought significant changes to Indian plays, witnessing a shift in both style and content. Societal impacts from the Second World War and partition led to a reevaluation of national optimism, shaping narratives that reflected the evolving consciousness of independence.

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2. What were the major societal changes that impacted the development of Modern Indian Theatre after the Second World War and the partition of the subcontinent?

Answer: The aftermath of the Second World War and the partition of the subcontinent brought about rapid societal changes. These changes, fueled by scientific and industrial advancements, influenced the prevailing value systems. They, in turn, manifested in Indian plays with a notable shift in focus and themes.

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3. How did the introduction of plays from foreign languages other than English, such as Brecht, Gogol, and Chekhov, influence the writing and staging of Indian plays during the post-independence era?

Answer: The post-independence era saw an increased accessibility to plays written in foreign languages. Influences from playwrights like Brecht, Gogol, and Chekhov began to shape the writing and staging of Indian plays. This trend was prominently visible in the works of renowned playwrights such as Badal Sarkar, Vijay Tendulkar, and Girish Karnad.

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4. In what ways did the thematic content of Modern Indian Theatre evolve, and how did playwrights like Badal Sarkar, Vijay Tendulkar, and Girish Karnad contribute to this shift?

Answer: The thematic content of Modern Indian Theatre evolved to address contemporary social issues. Playwrights like Badal Sarkar, Vijay Tendulkar, and Girish Karnad played pivotal roles in this shift. They displayed a receptivity towards experimental approaches, departing from the earlier tendency for lengthy plays with multiple scenes condensed into one act.

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5. Can you highlight the key themes explored in post-independence plays, including the use of mythological forms and the continued focus on social issues with an expanded canvas in Modern Indian Theatre?

Answer: Post-independence plays explored a range of themes, including the use of mythological forms to portray complex human emotions and dilemmas. The continued focus on social issues expanded to encompass new challenges such as economic disparity, the plight of women, Hindu-Muslim relations, rural struggles, and clashes between new and old values. This thematic diversity marked a significant aspect of Modern Indian Theatre.