Knowledge Predominates the Mere Strength in ‘Hayavadana’ Play of Girish Karnad

ABSTRACT

India has a thousand-year-old theatre culture, although its past is unclear. India theatre may date around 300 BC. Palaces and temples hosted the earliest theatrical performances. When theatres were created, four pillars painted white, red, yellow, and blue indicated social castes, and viewers sat near their caste pillar. A curtain split the stage in half for the performance and dressing rooms or offstage festivities. There was no scenery on stage, so actors described the setting or mimed. Early Hindu literature regulated the actor actions, gestures, clothes, and makeup. Each play included musical accompaniment. The oldest full Sanskrit tragedies were written by Bhasa in the 3rd century AD. Shakuntala, by court poet and dramatist Kalidas, is the best Sanskrit drama. In the 7th century, Shadow-puppet shows, folk drama, and dance replaced Sanskrit theatrical. By the 10th century, groups toured regional plays. By the 15th century, several regional theatrical genres had arisen, dominated by outdoor folk performances. Modern Indian theatre grew out of the 18th and 19th century urbanisation. In the 20th century, new genres arose, including political protest plays and experimental blends of European and traditional Indian drama. In the 21st century, Karnad plays focus on the complex and incomplete life of the modern man. Old tales are used to highlight the absurdity and problems of current life. Because of the British, Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay became theatre centres. British theatre was imported to entertain soldiers, businessmen, and government officials, and proscenium theatres built on British models became urban theatre hubs. Actors of diverse castes, races, religions, and occupations presented plays based on historical and mythological sources. Songs and dances were grafted onto discourse.

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