Origins
- Origins of Indian theatre not very well known
- Drawings on caves show that dance, music and drama were an intrinsic part of the life of the people
- Sitabengona and Jogimara (Ramgarh, MP) have structures that are possibly the oldest theatres of the world
- IVC: a seal shows a person beating drum while other disguised as a tiger
- A few hymns of the Rig Veda are in the monologue and dialogue form
- Natyashastra evolved some guidelines for drama
Folk Theatre vs Classical Sanskrit Theatre
Table 1
| Classical Sanskrit | Folk | Modern | |
| Place of performance | Normally performed privately or semi-privately – in palaces or rich homes, or in temple courts | Performed in open grounds or in pandals | Auditoriums |
| Auditorium | Design of auditorium described in Natyashastra. | ||
| Stage | Use features like back-stage, front-stage, wings and curtains | ||
| Themes | Plays written by dramatists – well structured. Themes of love, grief, myths etc | Folk legends and myths. Later themes focusing on social conditions became important | Dramas began to take up social themes, voice political unrest, express resentment against alien rule |
| Acting | Actors use rich gesture language and facial expressions to effectively atmosphere and situation | Spontaneous, simple and sometimes crude. Combines music, dance and acting | |
| Other characteristics | Standard form | More regional in form |
Prominent folk theatre forms
- Kerala
- Mudiyettu
- Ritualistic dance drama
- Performed annually in Kali temples
- Signifies triumph of good over evil as Kali vanquishes the demon Darika
- Included in UNESCO list of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity (2010)
- Krishnattam
- Kudiyattam (Sanskrit theatre)
- Theyyam
- Mudiyettu
- Assam
- Anika Nat (one act play)
- Rajasthan
- Bhavai
- Khyal (dance drama)
- Haryana
- Saang
- Kashmir
- Jashin
- Himachal Pradesh
- Karyala
- Maharashtra
- Tamasha
- TN: Therukkothu
- Bengal, Orissa:
- Goa: Zatra
- UP: Nautanki
- MP: Macha
- North India in general
- Rasleela
- Ramleela
Important Dramatists
Classical
- Asvaghosa – Buddhacharita
- Kalidasa – Abhijnanasakuntalam, Meghduta, Kumarsambhava
- Bhasa – Madhyamavyayoga
- Shudrak – Mricchkatika
- Vishakahdatta – Madrarakshasa
- Bhavabhuti – Mahaveercharita
Modern
- Dinbandhu Mitra – Neeldarpan
- Aga Hashra Kashmiri (aka Indian Shakespeare?)
- Bhartendu Harishchandra
- Jaishankar Prasad
- Habib Tanveer – Mitti ki Gadi, Charandas Chor
- Mohan Rakesh – Ashadha ka ek din
- Dharamveer Bharti – Andha Yug
- Vijay Tendulkar – Shantata Court Chalu Ahe, Ghasiram Kotwal
- Girish Karnad – Tughlaq, Yayati
Puppet Theatre
- Rajasthani Kathaputli
- Legend of Amarsingh Rathore is very popular
- Orissa: Sakhi Kundhei
- Assam: Putla Nach
- Maharashtra: Malasutri Bahuly
- Karnataka: Gombeyatta
- TN: Bommalattam
- Kerala: Tolpavakoothy
- AP: Tholu Bomalata
Modern Drama
- New theatre movement was initiated in Bengal and Maharashtra
- Influence of Europeans
- European plays translated and staged
- Themes: Dramas began to take up social themes, voice political unrest, express resentment against alien rule
- Deenbandhu Mitra’s Neeldarpan took the theme of the plight of the indigo plantation workers
- Krishnaji Prabhakar Khadilkar’s Kichaka Vadha relected nationalist sentiments
- Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) became a part of the mass struggle of peasants, youth and workers
- It was the cultural wing of the CPI
- Parsi theatre aimed at entertainment
- Maharashtra
- Indian National Theatre
- Prithvi Theatre
Government Initiatives
- National School of Drama, 1959