Indian theatre which was once the weapon for protesting against the British colonialism has a rich history of its own. The history of Indian theatre is therefore the saga of changing tradition and the account of changing ritualism. Indian theater is an effort of intensifying the social pattern. Whether to reflect the very "unedited realities" of the society or to illustrate the divine edifying aspects of life, theater in India definitely played a major role. The rich timeline of Indian theater has therefore gone through a number of periods. These different periods were actually caused by the diferent rulers who invaded India time and time again.

Sanskrit theatre has been recognized as the very first representation of Indian theatre. Beginning in the long gone era of the second century BC, Sanskrit theatre was then the only medium of illustratring the religious and aristrocratic Indian fervor. Sanskrit theater remained to be a popular form of expression till the seveenteenth Century. During the Eighteenth century, Sanskrit theatre slowly evolved as one of the eminent art form and was then popularly known as the "Indian Classical Dance Drama". That was just the beginning of the history of classical Indian theatre.

With the emergence of the Indian classical dance drama the very concept of Indian theatre gained a much contemporary dimension. This was the time when Indian theatre gave birth to the "Folk theatre". It was the beginning of the nineteenth century when music, timber, song, dance, dialogue and emotion all were for the first time incorporated in the Indian theater to offer it a modern facet. Not only in the acting pattern, change was observed even in the designing of the theater hall during this time. The theaters then incorporated huge orchestra pits and the seating arrangements were also then divided by metal bars.

The development of theatre in India was somewhat slow and was highly based on the influence of the invaders and the countries that ruled India. This is perhaps the reason why Indian Theater actually stood out as one of the "multilingual"and "multicultural" art form.

Theater in India was always an important part of the rich Indian culture and tradition and is still the same. In the recent era Indian theater has acquired that tinge of contemporary attribute in order to befit the modish requirement of the Indian society. Indian theater is still on rise.