Modern Indian Theatre

Modern Indian theatre, born during colonial times, blossomed with the help of Western influence. The theatre scene expanded in cities like Calcutta and Madras. Important themes in plays were social issues like casteism, child marriage, and dowry, while regional theatre, Parsi theatre, and groups like the IPTA and Prithvi Theatre significantly contributed to its development. Post-independence, Indian theatre combined traditional and Western forms, and explored themes like nationalism, societal discontent, and the human condition. In this article, you will know about Modern Indian Theatre during Pre-Independence Era and Post-Independence Era as well as how it depicted Nationalism and Societal Issues. This is an important topic for GS Paper-1 Art & Culture of UPSC IAS Exam. To explore more interesting UPSC Art & Culture topics like Modern Indian Theatre, check out other articles and IAS Notes of IASToppers.  

Table of Content

• Introduction
• Modern Indian Theatre during Pre-Independence Era
• Modern Indian Theatre during Post-Independence Era
• Nationalism and Societal Issues
• Conclusion
• FAQs on Modern Indian Theatre

Introduction

• The evolution of contemporary Indian theatre (post-medieval) has its roots deeply embedded in the colonial era.
• This period saw a surge in the availability of translated works, ranging from ancient Sanskrit scriptures to Western literary masterpieces.
• These translations sparked a renewed interest in theatre.
• Notable Western playwrights, including Gotthold Ephraim Lessing and Shakespeare, were instrumental in shaping the Indian theatre landscape.

Modern Indian Theatre during Pre-Independence Era

Urban Theatre

• A Russian gentleman named Levdef set up one of the first theatres, the Bengali Theatre.
  • This sparked a wave of theatre culture among drama enthusiasts, leading to emergence of theatre venues and performances.
• The flourishing metropolises of Calcutta and Madras gave birth to new entertainment forms.
• The Western Proscenium Style of Theatre, that came to life during the 18^th and 19^th century, found its place in these rapidly growing cities.
• Calcutta witnessed a surge in theatre in the 19^th century, with noteworthy additions like Belgachia Natyashala and Shobhabazar Natyashala.

19^th Century Plays

• 19^th-century Indian thinkers recognized that India’s decline was not only due to foreign rulers but also domestic social issues and superstitions.
• The dramatic literature of this time vocally criticized societal malpractices like casteism, child marriage, dowry, misconceived honor and status, prostitution, and untouchability.
• Leading playwrights of this time included Michael Madhusudan Dutt (Bengali), Bhartendu, Pratap Narain Mishra and Radhacharan Goswami (Hindi), Hemchandra Barua and Gunbhiram Barua (Assamese), Narayan Rao (Telugu), Kailasam etc.

Theatre during the British Era

• In the British era, Indians started evolving their unique theatrical style. This style was a fusion of Western and traditional Indian theatre.
• British colonial influence led to the development of Calcutta, Bombay, Surat, and Madras as hubs of trade, administration, and consequently, theatre.
• Commercialization started to influence theatre, leading to imposed costs on viewers, in contrast to the ancient theatre which was freely accessible.
  • This shift led to the formation of theatrical companies such as Parsi theatrical companies.
  • These companies popularized plays by translating them into Indian languages and took them on tour across different regions, generating revenue.
• Predominant themes touched on societal issues, including dowry, caste discrimination, religious deceit, and politics.
• The Dramatic Performances Act was enacted by the British Government in 1876 to curb rising political consciousness.

Parsi Theatre

• From 1850s-1920s, Parsi Theatres gained significant attention in Western India.
• Plays were written in local languages like Gujarati and Marathi, and they highlighted various themes through vivid backdrops and musical interludes.
• It mainly focused on themes like romance, humour, melodrama, etc.
• Parsi theatre productions heavily featured music, song, and dance, mirroring traditional folk performances.
• With the cinema’s emergence in the 1930s, many Parsi theatre producers transitioned to filmmaking.

Regional Theatre Expansion

• Regional theatres in Bengal, Maharashtra, and other areas garnered significant attention.
• Renowned playwright Rabindranath Tagore, Prasanna Kumar Thakur, Girishchandra Ghosh, and Dinabandhu Mitra etc. shaped these regional theatres.
• Tagore’s works, including “Valmiki Pratibha”, “Raktakarabi (Red Oleanders)”, “Chitrangada”, and “Post-Office”, addressed themes of nationalism, spirituality, and socio-political scenarios.

Establishment of Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA)

• The IPTA, formed in 1943 as the Communist Party’s cultural arm, played a crucial role in theatre development despite its disbandment in 1947.
• They presented plays addressing various social issues.
• Eminent personalities like Balraj Sahni, Prithviraj Kapoor, Bijon Bhattacharya, Ritwik Ghatak, and Utpal Dutt were associated with IPTA.
• It currently has a presence in Chattisgarh, Punjab, and West Bengal.

Prithvi Theatre

• Prithviraj Kapoor established Prithvi Theatre in 1944 as a travelling theatre with a troop of 150 artists, performing over 2000 plays.
• It wasn’t until 1978 that a permanent theatre was opened in Mumbai, and it continues to function today.

Modern Indian Theatre during Post-Independence Era

• Even after independence, Indian theatre continued to retain elements of Sanskrit and folk traditions while keeping the realistic western tradition.
• Rapid advancements in technology and industrial progress transformed societal values. These shifts echoed within Indian theatre.
• One significant transformation involved the increased exposure to non-English foreign plays within India.
  • Works from international authors such as Brecht of Germany, Gogol and Chekhov of Russia, and Sartre of France began to find their way into Indian cultural circles.
  • This transformation can be distinctly seen in the works of Bengali playwright Badal Sarkar, Marathi dramatist Vijay Tendulkar, and Kannada writer Girish Karnad.
  • Other Playwrights like Shambhu Mitra, B.V.Karant, Ibrahim Alkazi, and Utpal Dutt introduced new experimental theatrical techniques.
• Prior to the era of independence, theatrical performances were mainly aimed at nationalism. However, new historical plays have taken a different approach, delving deeper into history for a more comprehensive understanding.
  • Examples: 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).
• In the post-independence plays, the mythological form was also used to show complex human emotions and dilemmas.
• Themes dominating the new-age social plays included rising economic inequality and the resultant societal discontent, the state of women, the despair of marginalized communities, Hindu-Muslim relations, the hardships of rural life, and conflict between traditional and modern values.
  • Examples of new social plays: Adhe Adhure by Mohan Rakesh, Anjo Didi by Upendra Nath Ashq, Bakri by Sarveshwar Dayal Saksena, Tilchatta by Mudrarakshas, Shuturmurg by Gyan Dev Agnihotri etc.

Promotion of Theatre Arts

• The Sangeet Natak Akademi, set up in 1952, further boosted Indian theatre’s growth by promoting performing arts.
• Similarly, the National School of Drama played a significant role in nurturing theatre talent.

Evolution in Playwriting in the mid-20^th Century

• The fourth decade of the 20^th century witnessed substantial evolution in playwriting.
• This period saw a shift from idealism towards a more realistic approach in theatre.
• Dramas were also inspired by the issue-driven works of Ibsen, integrating social and personal concerns.
• Rather than focusing solely on the sequence of events, modern plays began to delve into the internal struggles and quandaries of their characters.

Preservation of Traditional Theatre

• In 1969, Heisnam Kanhailal initiated Kalakshetra Manipur with a mission to preserve and promote traditional theatre forms.
• This movement aimed at keeping the rich heritage of traditional theatre alive amid the changing landscape.

Chorus Repertory Theatre

• Ratan Thiyam, in 1976, established the renowned Chorus Repertory Theatre.
• The formation of this theatre group was another critical milestone in the development of contemporary Indian theatre.

Influence of Western Traditions and Indian Social Evolution

• Modern Indian theatre started adopting traits of western theatre, including its tendency towards tragic endings, contrary to happy endings of the Ancient Indian tradition.
• A significant shift occurred in the 1980s when theatre performances began to move from the auditoriums to open streets, adding a new dimension to the theatre world. However, this didn’t undermine the importance of stage-based plays.

Nationalism and Societal Issues

Modern theatrical works demonstrated a unique blend of nationalism and current social realities. Regional dramas with nationalistic sentiments include:

• Works of Deenbandhu Mitra in Bengali, showing imposed indigo farming by British colonialism on the local farmers, a clear critique of imperialism.
• Assamese plays by Padmanath Gohai Barua (Lochit Barfukan), Lahshmikant Bejbarua (Ckakradhwaj Singhj), and Bimlanand Barua (Sharai Ghat).
• Pavler contributed to the Tamil literature with his patriotic plays (Khadrin Verdri and Desheeya Koti, to name a few).
• In the Malayalam context, prominent figures like V.T. Bhattiripad, K. Damodaran, Govindan, Ittasheri, S.L. Puran, K.T. Muhammad, continued the trend of nationalistic literature.
• Hindi theatre also showcased nationalist satires by Bhartendu Harishchandra (Bharat Durdasha, Bharat Janani and Andher Nagri), a tradition significantly developed in the plays of Jai Shankar Prasad.

Conclusion

The poetics, plays, and performances of modern Indian theatre have not only sustained the traditional forms but have also evolved with time, reflecting the socio-political landscape of the country. This dynamic evolution has shaped the development and growth of modern Indian theatre. Despite the advent of cinema and digital media, the essence of theatre continues to thrive, preserving the rich cultural heritage of India and fostering a space for social commentary.

Ref: Source-1

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