Gujarati theatre
Gujarati theatre refers to
History
Pre-British Raj
The region of Gujarat has a long tradition of folk-theatre,
European Influence
During British Raj, British officials invited foreign operas and theatre groups to entertain them, this in turn inspired local Parsis to start their own travelling theatre groups, largely performed in Gujarati.[2] The first play published in Gujarati was Laxmi Natak by Dalpatram in 1850, it was inspired by ancient Greek comedy Plutus by Aristophanes.[3]
Advent of Parsi Theatre
In the year 1852, a
Modernization
Gradually as the numbers of plays being written and performed in Gujarati increased things changed, and finally a theatre group to steer away from the tradition of Parsi theatre and the Bhavai and incorporated elements of
In late 19th-century, theatre gained strength and travelling theatre companies became popular, performing plays based on a limited repertoire of mythological and religious plays. On the other hand, commercial theatre stuck to entertainment-oriented comedies, which delayed the arrival of experimental amateur theatre movement.
By the 1920s, theatre had become an integral part of the festive calendar. Elaborate sets and costumes became the high point of the period, and important actors of the era were Bapulal Nayak and Jaishankar Bhojak 'Sundari' (1889-1975), who worked both in old-style as well as the emerging experimental theatre, and became a legend like Bal Gandharva in Marathi theatre. In 1937, Ranbhoomi Parishad, was formed in Ahmedabad which tried to present major dramatists of the period on common platform for the first time.[2][9][11]
Post-independence
In the post-
Soon the traditional Bhavai musicals were also revived by theatre directors, like
Meanwhile, Gujarati diaspora in North America saw not just quality literature coming out from their midst, but also a vibrant Gujarati theatre.[18] In Vadodara theatre was patronized by Sayajirao Gaekwad III, and the city dubbed the cultural capital of Gujarat, and known for the Gandharva Natak Mandali. In the 1950, numerous groups were formed in the city including, Nutan Sanskar Kendra, Trimurti, Natya Vihar, Bhartiya Kala Kendra and Universal Art Forum, and the following decades saw formed for groups like Rangavali (1974), Kashunk, Vishkambhak, Aakar Theatre (1980), Intimate, Jayashree Kala Niketan and Navchetan. The city still had ten theatre groups in the 1990s, but gradually lost much of its theatre groups and audiences by the 2000s, despite theatre groups still existing in Surat and Rajkot. After mid 2000s, Gujarati theatre experienced a revival and has been growing steadily.[19][20]
However, the struggle for dominance between
Further reading
- Desai, S.D. (December 2002). More Happenings: Gujarati Theatre Today (1990 - 1999). Gandhinagar: ISBN 81-7227-113-1.
- Mahesha Choksi; Dhirendra Somani, eds. (2004). Gujarati Rangabhoomi: Riddhi ane Ronak. Ahmedabad: Gujarat Vishwakosh Trust.
See also
References
- ^ a b c "First Gujarati theatre group came up in 1878". The Times of India. 27 March 2013. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
- ^ a b c Bhawana Somaaya (11 May 2001). "Theatre time is here again". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ^ a b Datta, p. 1071
- ^ "Gujarati Theater". gujaratirocks. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ^ Chambers, p.381
- ^ Mukherjee, p. 322
- ^ a b Natarajan, p. 111
- ISBN 9780195644463– via Oxford Reference.
- ^ a b c d e f "Reliving the past of Gujarati Rangbhoomi". The Times of India. 27 March 2013. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ^ a b Hochman, p. 37
- ^ a b c d Chambers, p.382
- ^ Tevani, p. 50
- ^ George, p. 179
- ^ Das, p. 158
- ^ Das, p. 57
- ^ Das, p. 169
- ^ "From Gujarat with grace". The Tribune. 11 June 2006. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- ^ Magocsi, p. 637
- ^ "Drama magic survives in Vadodara, but vibrancy a far cry". The Times of India. 30 March 2012. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- ^ "At 150, will Gujarati theatre reinvent itself?". The Times of India. 7 May 2004. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
- DNA. 27 March 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
- ^ a b Onkar Kulkarni (17 March 2011). "Theater versus Theater". Indian Express. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
Bibliography
- Stanley Hochman; McGraw-Hill, inc (1984). "Indian theatre". McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Drama. VNR AG. ISBN 0070791694.
- Colin Chambers (2006). The Continuum Companion to Twentieth Century Theatre. Continuum International Publishing Group. ISBN 1847140017.
- Shailesh Tevani (2003). C.C. Mehta: Makers of Indian Literature Series. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 8126016760.
- Hasamukh Baradi (2003). History of Gujarati Theatre. Translated by Vinod Meghani. National Book Trust, India. ISBN 8123740328.
- Sisir Kumar Das (1995). A History of Indian Literature 1911-1956: Struggle for Freedom: Triumph and Tragedy. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 8172017987.
- Paul Robert Magocsi; Multicultural History Society of Ontario (1999). Encyclopedia of Canada's peoples - G - Reference. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0802029388.
- K. M. George (1995). "Modern Gujarati Drama". Modern Indian Literature: An Anthology. Plays and prose. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 8172017839.
- Amaresh Datta, ed. (1988). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: devraj to jyoti, Vol. 2. Sahitya Akademi. ISBN 8126011947.
- Nalini Natarajan; Emmanuel Sampath Nelson (1996). "Gujarati literature". Handbook of Twentieth Century Literatures of India. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0313287783.
- Sujit Mukherjee (1999). A Dictionary of Indian Literatures: Beginnings -1850. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 8125014535.
External links
- Gujarati Theatre at Mumbai Theatre
- Gujarati Theatre Preet Piyu ne Panetar - Longest Running Gujarati Play (Drama) in World Records India
- Gujarati Theatre Gujjubhai - Longest Running Gujarati Drama Series in World Records India
- Gujarati Theatre Pratima T - 87 Times Drama Performances in Foreign Countries honored by World Records India