Traditional Theatre forms of India

Traditional Indian Folk Theatres

"Theatre is a mirror, a sharp reflection of the society"

Theatre - Theatre is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage.

Classification of Folk theatres of India

Traditional theatres of Indian History 

1. Bhand Pather - Jammu & Kashmir
• Theme - Satire on society
2. Swang - Originally emerged from Haryana. There are two versions of Swang. The theme of the Swang is Parody and Entertainment.
1. Rohtak Swang - Haryana
2. Hatras Swang - Uttar Pradesh
3. Nautanki - UP
• Doha and Chaupais are used in this theatre which are inspired from Hindu religious literature.
• This theatre is entertaining, devotional and satirical.
4. Rasleela - UP (Braj Area)
• Theme - Love affairs of Lord Krishna.
5. Ramleela - UP (Awadh)
• Theme - Life story of Lord Rama.
6. Maach - Madhya Pradesh
• Theme - Complain about mother-in-law
7. Pandwani - MP
• Theme - Story of Pandavas
• One of the famous proponents of Pandvani, Sushri Usha Barle received Padma Shri in 2019.
8. Bideshiya - Bihar
• Theme is based on the separation between the lovers.
9. Jatra - West Bengal
• Jatra is a fair organised in the honour of god.
• It was popularised by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who also incorporated Kirtan music in Jatra.
10. Bhaona - Assam
• Theme - It is the representation of Ankia Naat of Assam.
11. Bhavai - Gujarat
• It is devotional theatre inspired from series of Lord Krishna.
12. Daandiya Raas - Gujarat
• It is specially performed on the festival of Navratra.
• Garba is the music whereas Dandiya is the dance form.
13. Tamasha - Maharashtra 
• It is an entertaining theatre from Maharashtra which was performed by the fishermen community.
• It is noted for the use of Lavani Music.
14. Dashavatar - Goa
• Theme - 10 incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
15. Yakshagana - Karnataka
• Theme - Events of Mahabharata
16. Mudiyettu - Kerala
• Theme is based on the triumph of goddess Bhadra Kali over asura Darika.
17. Koothiyattam - Kerala
• It is the oldest surviving traditional theatre of India.
• It is devotional in nature and performed in Sanskrit and Malayalam.
18. Therukutti - Tamil Nadu
• It is performed to please the rain goddess Mari Amman. 
• Its theme is inspired from the life of Draupadi.

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Note - This is my Vision IAS Notes (Vision IAS Class Notes) and Ashutosh Pandey Sir's Public Administration Class notes. I've also added some of the information on my own. 

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