INDIAN THEATRE

Presented by:Arti Chhawari

Background

•Natya Shastra
•Major source of evidence for Sanskrit theatre
• authorship is attributed to Bharata Muni.
• addresses acting, dance, music, dramatic
construction, architecture, costuming, make-up, props
• mythological origin of theatre
• most attention to acting (abhinaya), which consists of two
styles: realistic (lokadharmi) and conventional (natyadharmi)
•The theory of rasa
Classic Sanskrit theatre

•Classic Sanskrit theatre began as Narrative art form.

•Drama ; Nataka ; Rupaka ; Drishyakavya ; Prekshakavya
•Some well known dramatists and writers
1. Ashvagosh : Sariputra Prakarana
2. Bhasa :Swapna Vasavadattam
3. Sudraka: Mricchakatika
4. Kalidasa: Malvikagnimitra,Vikramorvashi,Shakuntalam
5. Bhavbhuti: Uttaramacharita, Mahavircharita
6. Vishakhadatta : Mudrarakshasa
7. Harshvardhan : Ratnavali
Classic Sanskrit theatre Types of classic theatres:
1. Anka
2. Bhana
3. Dima
4. Ithamgra
5. Nataka
6. Prahasna
7. Prakarna
8. Svakarna,vithi
9. vyayog
Classic Sanskrit theatre

Reasons of declination
•Dramatist began to diverge towards poetry
•Rigid orthodoxy in Sanskrit theatres;
restricted the creative space
•Popularity of Sanskrit declined
•Rise of Pali and Prakrit
•Advent of Muslim rulers: dance and music
gain patronage
Folk theatres

•Emerged in 15-16th century

•Rural roots,rustic flavour,local lifestyle enacted in plays
•Adopted love ballads and account of local heroes
•Use of local languages
•No rules and regulations
•Two types: Religious and secular

•RITUAL THEATRE
•Emaerged along with Bhakti movement
•Religious type folk theatre
•A popular means for communicating the faith on God
•Ankia Naat ; Kala ; Ramlila ; Raslila ; Bhuta
Folk theatres

•ANKIA NAAT
•Assam
•Traditional one act play
•Started by Vaishnava saint : Shankardeva
•Depicts incidents from the life of Krishna
•Use Masks
Folk theatres

•KALA
•Traditional folk vaishanav theatre
•Based on incarnations of Vishnu

•RAMLILA
•Uttar Pradesh
•Enactment of Ramayana
•Ussually performed during Dussehra festival
•Performed by male actors
Folk theatres

•RASLILA
•Gujrat
•Enactment of Krishna and Radha stories

•BHUTA
•Karnataka
•Traditional practice of worshipping the ancestors
•Counter part of Teyyam of North Kerela
ENTERTAINMENT
THEATRES
 DASKATHIA

•Odissa
•Gujrat and Rajasthan •Odissa
•Two narrators:Gayak +Palia
•Dance drama •3 narrators
•Dramatic Music
•theme: romantic •Two
•Instuments:Kathia
•Sutradhar:Nayaka instruments:dhol+mohuri
•Instruments
:Bhungal,Jhanjha,Tabla
 JATRA
•Eastern India
•Gujrat •Theme:historical or patriotic •Himachal Pradesh
•Garoda community •Odissa:street theatre;Sahi •Open Air Theatre
•Use of painted pictures Jatra •Performed during fairs
•Theme:romance and valour •Open Air theatre and festivals
 Nautanki
•North India
•Malwa Region,MP •Theme:historical,social,folktale •Assam
•Romantic Folk tales,local •Dance+drama+music •Associated with
legends of warriors •Dialogue delivery :lyrical+beats festival of Manasa
•Instruments:dhol,sarangi of drums Nagara •Parts:Baniya,Bhatiyali
•Dialoue delivery in the form of ,Deva Khanda
couplets(Rangat Dohas)
 Swang
•Punjab and Haryana
•Maharashtra
•Maharashtra •Musical Drama
•Humour and erotic content
•Theme:Shivaji •Instruments:ektara,harmonium
•Accompanied by lavani
•Operatic Ballads •Sarangi,dholak,kharta
song
•Female actors also
perform as male
 Bhand Panthar
•Kashmir
•Assam •Popular in Deccan
•Satire, wit and parody
• A presentation of the Ankia •Villu Pattu = bow-song
• Music : surnai, nagaara and dhol
Naat •Narration of Ramayan
• actors from the farming
•The Sutradhaar, or narrator using bow shaped
community
begins the story, first in instrument

Sanskrit.
 Naqal or Bhand

•Punjab
•Uttarakhan
•Mimicry based performance
•Dedicated to Bhumiyal Devta,the
•Performing artist :
local diety
Behroopiya/Naqalchi : 2 artists
•Listed in UNESCO
•Comedy ,humour : address social
•Use masks symbolizing
and political message
Narasimha
SOUTH INDIAN
THEATRES
 Krishnattam
•Kerela
•Kerela
•Konkan Region •Colourful dance drama
•Celebrated in month of vrischik
•Stories of 10 incarnations of •Narrates the life story of Sri
•performed only in the Kali
Lord Vishnu Krishna
temples of Kerala, as an oblation
•Two part : poorva rang and •Cycle of 8 plays performed on 8
to the Goddess. It depicts the
uttara rang consecutive days
triumph of goddess Bhadrakali
over the asura Darika.
 Yakshgana
•Karnataka/Andhra Pradesh
•Tamil Nadu
•Kerela •Originated in Vijayanagar Empire
•Means street play
• Characters : Chakyaar •Performed by Jakkula varu
•Narrator : Kathiakaran
Naambiyaar, Naangyaar community
•mostly performed at the time
• The Sutradhar and the •Dance drama
of annual temple festivals of
Vidushak are the protagonist •based on mythological stories
Mariamman (Rain goddess) to
• Emphasis on hand gestures and and Puranas.
achieve rich harvest.
eye movements.
 Pagati Veshaalu
•Telangana
•Karnataka
•Andhra Pradesh •Performed by 3-4 persons
•Open air theatre
•Burra, an instrument used in •Through satire, Pagati Veshalu
•5 types : Dasarata, Sannata,
performance aims to reform the society.
Doddata, Parijata, Yakshagana
•Main artist : Narrator •It is enacted during daytime
•Stories based on Radha
•2 co-artists : vanthas only.
Krishna
 Kuru Vanji
•Tamil Nadu
•Karnataka and Kerela •Originated 300 years ago
•Tal:cymbals •Kuruvanji means fortune teller
•Maddale : drum •Theme revolves around love struck heroine
•Performed while sitting •Performed in dance ballet form
•Without costumes,dance,acting