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Theater in India under British rule gained a global contour. It is during this time theater in India came into a direct contact with the western theater. It is during this 200 years of British rule Indian drama became lot more contemporary and naturalistic. Gone are the days of eposes, epics and "Loknatya" - theater in India under British rule for the very first time geared up fully towards a systematic and natural presentation. India, as a colony of the European empire used theater to illustrate the likings, dislikings of the British raj. The stylistic approach of theater in India under British rule changed quite drastically and the presentation started focusing mainly on the day to day life and common people. With the colossal development of this particular style of drama theater in India under British rule did break the barriers of language, region, class and rank and gradually spread throughout India as a means of remonstration. Theater in India under British rule therefore became a structured way of manifesting the daily life. It was no more laced with the heroic deeds of the celestial fiigures; it was no more woven around super powerful gods and mythological heroes--- rather it became the portrayal of the life and style of common man; an illustration of sufferings of the poor and the graphic presentation of the "unedited realities" of life. Bengali theater, Hindi and Marathi theater made their presence felt quite largely in altering the socio political set up of India during the British rule. Theater in India under British rule thus slowly became a logical expression of democratic ideas, beliefs and mores. Theater groups were formed during this time and theater was then clearly divided into two distinct categories like the urban theater and the rural theater. Although folk theater was also there yet the colossal demand of altering the social, economic as well as the political set up of India was so very much that the quixotic brilliance of the folk thaeater somewhat faded away. It again revived its lost glory during and after the Indian independence. Theater in India under British rule thus reverberates the history of Indian theater. Indian theater is lot more than just being a journey from the archaic theatrical pattern to the modish approach of contemporary theater. It is ofcourse a lot more than just being the representation of natya" and bhava; Indian theater thus is the reflection of the rich culture, undaunted spirit and ethnicity of India which definitely gained that desired shape during the 200 years of British Raj. (Last Updated on : 20-02-2009) |
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