Write brief notes on Marathi Theatre
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Naatak hey Marathi maansaachya kana-kanaat rutlay (Theatre is settled deeply in every vein of the Marathi population). If you watch and follow the Marathi plays, and the people behind it, this is a phrase you might’ve heard often. In a time when Bollywood is all the rage, myriad options of entertainment keep cropping up and folk theatre seems to be pushed to the fringes, Marathi theatre continues to rally on, and beautifully so! Marathi theatre sees multiple plays open to packed houses, and it churns out an average of 150-200 productions each year - both commercial and experimental put together. While theatre in English or even Hindi is either seen as something to indulge in over the weekend or as entertainment for the elite, Marathi theatre has managed to seep into every aspect of a Marathi Manoos's life, social standing irrespective. There's something for everyone.
So what is it that makes Marathi theatre so rich and active?
Maharashtra has a 150 years old tradition in theatre, and is equally rich in stories both folklore as well as contemporary. There's something in every genre – comedy, drama, thriller, horror, romance, et al. These are the stories every average middle class Maharashtrian has grown up on or can connect to, so there's also an emotional pull towards theatre.
The Plays
But, that is not all the reason for the long standing popularity of Marathi theatre. The secret lies in Marathi theatre’s accepting, embracing and adapting to the changes in society. In the 1960s, when most theatre in India depended upon adapted stories and plays from across the world, the Marathi guys had begun writing original plays and gave rise to the experimental movement.
The foundation was set by stellar playwrights like Vijay Tendulkar, Satish Alekar, Mahesh Elkunchawar, whose works have not only been way ahead of their time, but have also set the foundation for a tradition in excellent theatre. These writers raised topics which were untouched before, like sexuality, and the life and problems of the middle class. They spoke about subjects that took theatre closer to the people. Actors and directors like Tendulkar, Sulabha Deshpande, Sai Paranjpye, Vijaya Mehta, Shriram Lagoo, and such stalwarts, with the help of the stories provided, laid the foundation for a progressive audience.
So what is it that makes Marathi theatre so rich and active?
Maharashtra has a 150 years old tradition in theatre, and is equally rich in stories both folklore as well as contemporary. There's something in every genre – comedy, drama, thriller, horror, romance, et al. These are the stories every average middle class Maharashtrian has grown up on or can connect to, so there's also an emotional pull towards theatre.
The Plays
But, that is not all the reason for the long standing popularity of Marathi theatre. The secret lies in Marathi theatre’s accepting, embracing and adapting to the changes in society. In the 1960s, when most theatre in India depended upon adapted stories and plays from across the world, the Marathi guys had begun writing original plays and gave rise to the experimental movement.
The foundation was set by stellar playwrights like Vijay Tendulkar, Satish Alekar, Mahesh Elkunchawar, whose works have not only been way ahead of their time, but have also set the foundation for a tradition in excellent theatre. These writers raised topics which were untouched before, like sexuality, and the life and problems of the middle class. They spoke about subjects that took theatre closer to the people. Actors and directors like Tendulkar, Sulabha Deshpande, Sai Paranjpye, Vijaya Mehta, Shriram Lagoo, and such stalwarts, with the help of the stories provided, laid the foundation for a progressive audience.
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