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Bengali theatre primarily refers to theatre performed in theBengali language. Bengali theatre is produced mainly inWest Bengal, and inBangladesh. The term may also refer to someHindi theatres which are accepted by the Bengali people.
Bengali theatre has its origins in British rule. It began as private entertainment in the early 19th century.[1] In the pre-independence period, Bengali theatres played a pivotal role in manifesting dislike of theBritish Raj. After the independence of India in 1947, leftist movements inWest Bengal used theatre as a tool for social awareness. This added some unique characteristics to the art form that still have strong effects. These groups differentiate themselves ideologically from commercial Bengali theatre.[citation needed]
The many theatres inWest Bengal can be broadly divided intoKolkata-based theatres and rural theatres. Outside Bengali-speaking areas, the term "Bengali theatre" primarily refers to Kolkata-based groups, as the rural theatres are less well-known. The two types are similar in form and content, but the Kolkata-based theatres are better funded and staffed. This is mainly due to the influx of expertise from rural areas to Kolkata in search of a larger audience.[citation needed]
There are also Bengalifolk theatres. There are many dialects of Bengali spoken inWest Bengal and Bangladesh. The larger Bengali theatres use the dialect spoken in Kolkata, Bengali folk theatres have performances in some of the other Bengali dialects.
There is another category of Bengali theatre calledJatra, which is run commercially in ruralWest Bengal and Bangladesh. This traditional Bengali theatre form is mostly performed by travelling troupes. The most prominent characteristics of Jatra are melodramatic contents and presentation, exaggerated expressions and movements, and an extensive use of traditional musical instruments. Jatra originally explored subjects concerning the tales ofRadha-Krishna. But at present, it has been modernized to feature crisis through stories.[2] Many popular Bengali film artists participate in Jatra.
Hindi theatres which are accepted by the Bengali people include the productions ofRangakarmee (established 1976) directed byUsha Ganguly, and productions byPadatik (established 1972) underShyamanand Jalan, who started withAnamika in 1955.[3][4]
Following theindependence of Pakistan in 1947, religion-based nationalism was strong and affected the theatre in eastern Bengal. InEast Pakistan (modern-day Bangladesh), playwrights emerged such as Ibrahim Khan (1894–1978), Ibrahim Khalil (b. 1916), Akbar ad-Din (1895–1978) and others. These playwrights would create plays related to the Islamic history ofthe subcontinent and Middle East, glorifying past Muslim rulers as well as the history of thePakistan Movement.[5]
NatyaguruNurul Momen was the pioneer by breaking away from these dramas glorifying Islam & moved to Bengali Nationalism. He believed that, Bengalis are Bengalis first, then next comes his religion. He was the trailblazer & doyen of Bengali theatre's progressiveness & secular tradition.NatyaguruNurul Momen's maiden play "Rupantor" and 2nd playNemesis (Momen play) ushered in the Bengali nationalism in Bengali theatre; which imbibed Bengali nationalism in the theatrical & cultural fields and eventually, that led to the independence ofBangladesh.
The late 19th- and early 20th-century theatres had their ownBengali music.[1] This form was pioneered byGirish Chandra Ghosh; the era of Bengali theatre before him laid the groundwork, and after his death Bengali theatre music became more experimental.[1] During the era of Girish Chandra, all stage-plays included some form of traditional Bengali music, and dancer-singers who performed before and between the acts. Mythological plays would haveKirtan-anga songs, epics would include indigenous styles such askhyāmtā, and comedies and farcical plays often includedtappā songs byNidhu Babu.[1]
