The term "unity in diversity" finds an eloquent utterance in Indian drama and theatre which is definitely one of the oldest art forms. Indian drama is perhaps even older than Indian dance and music. Indians have an impressive history of expressing themselves through dramatic expression since the remote past. Quite ideally therefore the history of Indian folk theatre and drama can actually be traced back amidst the religious ritualism of the Aryans and also in the midst of the dance pattern and amidst the style of daily living. This further holds the truth that Indian drama and theater is definitely one of the most erstwhile genre of art form. According to the "Indian Natyashastra", Indian drama and theatre is nothing but an overall depiction of the "unedited reality" amidst music, dance, emotion, movement, gestures and action.

Drama shows people going through some eventful period in their lives, seriously or humorously. A play comes fully to life only on the stage, where it combines many arts those of the author, director, actor, designer, and others. Dramatic performance involves an intricate process of rehearsal based upon imagery inherent in the dramatic text. In a drama, the beginning, should tell the audience or reader what took place before the story leads into the present action. The middle carries the action forward, amid trouble and complications. In the end, the conflict is resolved, and the story comes to a satisfactory, but not necessarily a happy conclusion. The plots must be filled with action. It should penetrate both the heart and mind and shows man as he is, in all his misery and glory.

Indian drama and theatre is perhaps as old as its music and dance. Classical theatre traditions have also influenced modern theatre, particularly the Hindi, Marathi and Bengali theatres. The tradition of folk theatre is alive in nearly all the linguistic regions of the country. In addition, there is a rich tradition of puppet theatre in rural India. In the beginning, the dramas were written on the basis of the epics and puranas. So people found much interest in the dramas. Rasa and acting were much popular in the society. So, slowly Lokanatya became popular.

India is one of the few countries, which can boast of an indigenous drama, unaffected by any foreign influence. The earliest extant stage piece, The Little Clay Cart, is ascribed to a sovereign named Sudraka. It should probably be dated sometime before 400 A.D. This is one of the few oriental dramas treating, in part at least, of middle-class life. The long play opens with a prayer, followed by a dialogue between the manager and one of the actors, in which the audience is complimented and the chief circumstances of the coming presentation described; then by skillful management the dialogue merges into the play.

There is division into acts and scenes, the intermissions being filled by musicians. The greater part of the piece is in prose, while the more impassioned passages are in verse, the four-line stanza being much in use. (Nearly half of Sakuntala is in this form.) There are many lyrical scenes in which lovely things in nature are described, also many moral reflections and precepts of wisdom. Such lines are always put into the mouth of an important character and are given in Sanskrit, which has not been the common language of India since about 300 B.C., though it is still spoken by Brahmin priests. While the gods, heroes, and the few important personages speak in this aristocratic tongue, the women, slaves, and all minor characters use the dialect of the lower class. The play closes, as it opens, with a prayer.

The production of plays was almost exclusively an affair of the aristocracy, who gave them in honor of a coronation, a lunar holiday, a royal marriage, or the birth of a royal heir. The actor`s profession was regarded with respect, and there was no objection to women being employed on the stage. In many ways, however, the drama reveals the social philosophy upon which the caste system is based, as well as a profound religious feeling. Great importance is attached to the idea of self-sacrifice as the highest form of self-realization.

History of Indian Drama
We know that the inception of Indian drama was in the Rig Veda. However, from those times, the Indian drama scene has seen a lot of ups and downs. The Natya Shastra by Bharata or the great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata, India had a lot of scholars that have taken the concept of drama to a next level.

Marathi Drama
Right from the begininng upto the present time both professional and non-professional Marathi drama groups continue to perform their plays on the Marathi stage with success, both groups develop and progress and maintain continuity. Moreover many drama training institutions, shibirs (workshops), seminars are regularly held to promote awareness of drama`s aesthetic values and qualities. Consequently the Marathi stage is constantly every year enriched with the addition of new forward-looking playwrights, directors, artists and technicians.

Prithvi Theatre
The late Prithviraj Kapoor launched a Hindi theatre company called Prithvi Theatres in 1944, with a production of Kalidasa`s "Shakuntala". He toured India for about 16 years with his troupe, as an actor-manager of the Prithvi Theatre. It was his dream to eventually construct a theatre. This dream turned reality after his sad demise and today, Prithvi is now a focal point for thousands of theatre lovers. It was born of a love for theatre and it continues to thrive on the patronage and good wishes of its actors and its audiences.

Alyque Padamsee
He is a legendary theatre personality and the top advertising professional of India. Hardly some people have made it successfully at the top of the ladder and Alyque is one of those, who has made his mark in two seperate fields; Theatre & Advertising!

Elements of Drama
The essential elements of drama are Character, Plot, Theme, Dialogue, Convention, Genre, Audience, Stagecraft, Design, Conversions and many others. These elements are important for the very existence of a drama.