Home > Entertainment > Indian Drama & Theatre > H. S. Shiva Prakash
H. S. Shiva Prakash
H. S. Shiva Prakash is a Kannada dramatist, poet, translator, and also a critic.

Share this Article:

H. S. Shiva Prakash, Indian Theatre PersonalityH. S. Shiva Prakash is a famous Kannada dramatist. He was also a prominent poet, translator, and also a critic. He was born in Bengaluru in 1954 in the Indian state of Karnataka. H. S. Shiva Prakash studied English literature and is a professor at the School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. H. S. Shiva Prakash belongs to the `total theatre` school of Kannada theatre, with music, dance, action, and a strong storyline. He draws subjects for his plays from the history and culture of Karnataka. One could describe his work as a search for the meaning and definition of culture, even for an alternate culture. Most of it deals with the Dravidian heritage and sets out to examine the present in the light of the past. Politically relevant, it is also artistically pleasing.

A scene from Mahachaitra by H. S. Shiva Prakash, Indian Theatre Personality, Out of his fourteen plays, Mahachaitra staged in 1985 and Manteswami Kathaprasanga or Manteswami`s Scripted Story` in 1989 are important. In the first he boldly reassesses the complexities of the twelfth-century Kannada Bhakti movement and the life of its leader, Basaveswara. It became highly controversial, as the religious establishment perceived it a threat. They think it misrepresented Basaveswara`s character. The text was withdrawn from university syllabi. Manteswami Kathaprasanga discusses the life and achievements of the folk saint belonging to the oppressed classes, and has seen more than 125 performances all over India.

A scene from Mahachaitra by H. S. Shiva Prakash, Indian Theatre Personality Major Works of H. S. Shiva Prakash
Poetry
* Milarepa
* Malebidda Neladalli
* Anukshana Charite
* Suryajala
* Maleye Mantapa
* Matte Matte
* Mabbina Haage Kanive Haasi
* Maruroopagalu (Kannada translation of poems from various languages)
* Nanna Mainagara (Kannada translation of the Malayalam poems of K. Satchidanandan)
* Navilu Nagara (songs from his plays)

Plays
* Mahachaitra
* Sultan Tipu
* Shakespeare Swapnanauke
* Manteswamy Kathaprasanga
* Madari Madayya
* Madurekanda
* Madhavi
* Matrika
* Makarachandra
* Sati
* Cassandra
* Maduve Hennu
* King Lear (Kannada translation of Shakespeare`s play)
* Maranayakana Drishtanta (Kannada adaptation of Macbeth)
* Mallammana Mane Hotlu (Kannada adaptation of Federico Garcia Lorca`s The Shoemaker`s Prodigious Wife)

Others
* Sahitya mattu Rangabhoomi (a treatise on literature and theatre)
* Modala Kattina Gadya (a collection of essays)
* Yuganta (Kannada translation of Irawati Karve`s book of the same name)
* Batteesa Raaga (Spiritual autobiography)
* Incredible India: Traditional Theatres

Awards and Honours of H. S. Shiva Prakash
* Four Kannada Sahitya Akademi awards
* Sangeet Natak Akademi award for 1997
* Satyakama award for 2003
* Ministry of Human Resource Development fellowship for Kannada literature
* Honorary Fellow of the School of Letters, University of Iowa, since 2000
* Karnataka Rajyotsava Prashasti, 2006


Share this Article:

Subscribe to Newsletter
Learn unknown facts about India from a curated list of informative articles.

Related Articles

More Articles in Indian Drama & Theatre

Gondhal Dance
Gondhal is a religious performing folk art of Maharashtra. It is performed on special days like when there is a newborn in a family or marriage.
Tamasha Folk Dance
Tamasha is a folk art, which includes the love songs, which are traditional lavanis and dance along with the music.
History Of Indian Theatre
The history of Indian theater is therefore the saga of changing tradition and the account of changing ritualism.
Indian Dramatist
Indian dramatists maintained Indian drama as a distinct art form.
Sringara Rasa
Sringara Rasa is mentioned in Natyashastra as one of the important rasas. The Sthayi bhava in Sringara rasa is Rati or love.
History of Indian Drama
History of Indian Drama is rich with Vedas and Indian epics and has gradually changed with time and remains unaffected by any foreign influence.
Navarasas - Natyashastra
Nine rasas or navarasas, described in Natyashastra contours the structure of Indian drama.
History of Kannada Theatre
History of Kannada theatre brings forth the richness in the Kannada culture. Theatre of Karnataka has been greatly inspired from various other forms of regional theatre in India.
Powada - Marathi Ballad
Powada is a Marathi ballad describing heroic deeds of valour by great warriors and kings.
Jatra - Bengali Folk Drama
Jatra is a form of folk drama from West Bengal, which includes acting, songs, music and dance by travelling troops
Kuvempu
Kuvempu is a literary acronym of Kuppali Venkatappa Puttappa - a popular Kannada actor-playwright.
Natyashastra
Natyashastra by Bharata muni is the most detail and elaborate of all treatises on dramatic criticism and acting ever written in any language and is regarded as the oldest surviving text on stagecraft in the world.
History of Bengali Theatre
Blessed with its rich heritage the history of Bengali theatre is the saga of the journey of Bengali Theatre
Bhavai - Folk Theatre of Gujarat
Bhavai is a popular folk theatre form of Gujarat that belongs to the tradition of theatre of entertainment.
Theatre In Ancient India
Theatre in ancient India in a systematic manner was introduced by Bharat Muni who prefaced the term "roopaka".
Bidesiya - Folk Theatre Dance
Bidesiya is one of the most popular folk theatre dance forms of Bihar which is said to have originated in the 20th century.
Regional Theatre in India
Regional theatre in India, in different Indian languages and regions, developed as an important element of Indian culture and tradition.
Koodiyattam
Koodiyattam is the oldest existing classical theatre form of the world. It has been recognised by UNESCO as a Human Heritage Art.
Indian Theatre Festivals
Indian theatre festivals help to bridge the gap between the various regions of the country. It also helps to bridge the gap among people and participants!
Kariyila Folk Dance
Kariyila is one of the most appealing and popular folk drama forms of Himachal Pradesh, portraying social satire with the accompaniment of folk dance and music.
Bengali Theatre
Bengali theatre had developed as a prominent form of protest movement during the colonial period. But with time it has made a niche for itself.