Life is a stage,’ a famous English poet once said. However, the origin of theatre is the result of the immense hard work of countless lives. In present times, theatre might lack patronage due to the dominance of movies. But theatre is the very root cause of the emergence of movies! Many stage artists entered the film industry and earned great fame. Legendary actors like Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao were stage actors in their earlier days! In those times, this “stage” provided a livelihood to many. In English, this art of acting is called ‘Theatre’. Although Telugu people use the word ‘theatre’ to refer to both the stage and the movie hall, ‘Rangasthalam’ specifically means the place where plays are performed, whereas a movie hall is where films are screened. The word ‘theatre’ actually originated from the Greek word ‘Theatron’, which means ‘a place for viewing’.
A Performing Art Form
Theatre is a magnificent performing art form presented on a stage. Performing the experience of real or imagined events in a specific place, on a stage, in front of a live audience is called a theatrical performance. Performers entertain the audience through a beautiful combination of gesture, speech, song, music, and dance. A play is performed and expressed through a unique mode of fiction. “Natakantham Hi Sahityam” (Literature culminates in drama), said the great poet Kalidasa. This implies that drama is the ultimate act to be touched upon among all literary forms. He expressed that a writer should attempt to write a play only after exploring all other literary forms like poetry, essays, and stories. Only then, he believed, would playwriting attain its true completeness.
Indian Theatre:
The earliest form of Indian theatre is Sanskrit theatre, dating back to the 2nd century BCE. It began as a form of ritual instruction and officially took shape through Sanskrit drama. Originating from the Rig Veda, it was further developed through Bharata Muni’s Natya Shastra. The golden age of Sanskrit theatre began in the 2nd century BCE and lasted until the 10th century CE. The decline of Sanskrit theatre occurred due to numerous foreign invasions and the subsequent banning of this art form by those rulers. Indian theatre is a rich blend of dance, music, and drama, encompassing both tradition and modernity.
Types of Plays:
There are many types of Telugu plays, with mythological plays, historical plays, social plays, and farces being the most prominent. Mythological plays are based on epic stories like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavatam. Historical plays revolve around historical figures and events. Social plays take social issues and human relationships as their core themes, while farces are created primarily to evoke humor.
Characteristics of a Play:
Aristotle proposed six essential elements for a play: Plot, Character, Thought, Diction, Music, and Spectacle. All of these play a key role in a theatrical performance. However, each element is unique to its play because every play is different from another. Along with these, several additional elements also influence a drama. A play must have a plot, which gives it a specific meaning. The performance of the actors breathes life into the play, allowing characters and emotions to be expressed clearly. Characters drive the story forward; through them, feelings, emotions, and conflicts are revealed. Conversations between characters provide a unique style and expose their true nature. Events push the narrative forward and establish relationships between characters. Scenes create a specific atmosphere and further convey the underlying emotions. Sometimes, music also plays a crucial role in setting the right mood. Because a play is expressed through live performance, it is considered a distinct art form. Plays are generally divided into acts and scenes, and can be categorized into tragedies, comedies, domestic dramas, and more.
Telugu Theatre:
Telugu theatre is a great cultural heritage and a vital part of our culture. It preserves our language, traditions, and values, standing as an important genre in Telugu literature. It provides entertainment, knowledge, and meaningful messages to the people. Its history is incredibly ancient, with its roots deeply embedded in folk arts. Forms like Bhagavatam, street plays, and Burrakatha are the early predecessors of Telugu theatre. By the end of the 19th century, Telugu theatre began to take a modern shape. Writers like Gurajada Apparao and Kandukuri Veeresalingam laid the strong foundations for modern Telugu theatre. Their works were primarily based on social issues and human relations. Countless writers, directors, and actors have contributed to the growth of Telugu theatre. Personalities such as Gurajada Apparao, Kandukuri Veeresalingam, Dharmavaram Krishnamacharyulu, Bellary Raghava, Sthanam Narasimharao, Peesapati Narasimhamurthy, and Yadavalli Suryanarayana enriched the Telugu theatrical landscape.
Manjari Madhukariyam:
The very first play in Telugu is ‘Manjari Madhukariyam’. It was written by Korada Ramachandra Sastri around the 1860s. Later, “Kanyasulkam”, written by Gurajada Apparao, became a historic milestone in Telugu theatre. By 1960, nearly two thousand plays and four thousand one-act plays and playlets had been produced.
Plays during the Nizam’s Rule:
During the Nizam’s rule in Telangana, plays were used as powerful tools to awaken the public and bring issues like autocratic governance, the Zamindari system, and peasant struggles to the masses. Public art forms like street plays, Yakshaganas, and Chindu Bhagavatams were highly prevalent in Telangana. Plays played a crucial role in bringing political and social awareness among the people. They significantly contributed to fueling public opposition against the Nizam’s administration, the Zamindari system, and illegal tax collections. Furthermore, theatre played a key role in inspiring the Telangana Armed Struggle. As part of the Nizam’s state, Telangana plays were also influenced by the theatre societies of neighboring Maharashtra and Karnataka regions.
Famous Plays:
The play “Maa Bhoomi”, co-written by Vasireddy Bhaskararao and Sunkara Satyanarayana, successfully intensified public opposition against the Nizam’s rule and the Zamindari system. “Vetti Chakiri” educated the masses about the ongoing struggles against bonded labor and illegal collections. Boyi Bheemanna’s “Paleru” deeply inspired the Telangana Armed Struggle. Written by Vedanthakavi in 1948, “Chalo Hyderabad” depicted the Nizam’s rule and the events leading up to the integration of the Hyderabad state into India. The play “Mundadugu” urged the people to rise and fight against the Nizam rulers who were governing Hyderabad under British orders.
Plays during the Nationalist Movement:
Plays like Muttaraju Subbarao’s ‘Chandragupta’ (1932), Seshubabu’s ‘Ashoka Rajyamu’ (1945), Prabhulingacharyulu’s ‘Palnati Veera Charitramu’ (1928), Unnava Lakshminarayana’s ‘Nayakuralu’ (1926), Nanduri Bangarayya’s ‘Andhra Tejamu’ (1938), Vedam Venkataraya Sastry’s ‘Prataparudreeyamu'(1897),Pothukuchi Subbayya’s ‘Andhra Vani Samrajyamu’ (1944), Kolachalam Srinivasa Rao’s ‘Sultan Chand Bibi’ (1900), Kallakuri Sambasiva Rao’s ‘Rangaraya Kadana Samavakaram’ (1899), Sripada Krishnamurthy’s ‘Bobbili Yuddham’ (1908), Kopparapu Subbarao’s ‘Roshanara’ (1921), and Padala Ramarao’s ‘Alluri Sitaramaraju’ (1950) vividly portrayed historical events. They showcased the fighting spirit of leaders who fought against foreigners and highlighted the inspiration drawn from rulers who provided popular governance across the country and in the Andhra region.
Current Situation:
Currently, the popularity of Telugu theatre has seen a decline. The primary reason for this is the advent of movies. Performing a play live on stage is much more challenging than acting in a film, as actors must perform directly in front of an audience with immense skill and precision. The government must step forward to revive theatre by providing it with the same incentives and support given to the film industry. Likewise, it is the responsibility of the audience to patronize plays and pass on this magnificent art form to future generations.
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