Indian classical and traditional theatre

Sanskrit dramatists

• Bhasa: one of the earliest known Sanskrit dramatists. Thirteen plays attributed to him were found in Kerala and published by T. Ganapati Shastri in the early 20th century. They include Svapnavasavadattam, Pratijnayaugandharayana, Urubhanga, Madhyamavyayoga, Dutavakya, Karnabhara and Pratima. Urubhanga is unusual because it shows the death of Duryodhana on stage, close to a tragedy.
• Kalidasa: the greatest Sanskrit poet-dramatist. Plays: Abhijnanashakuntalam, Vikramorvashiyam and Malavikagnimitram. Also wrote the poems Raghuvamsha, Kumarasambhava, Meghaduta and Ritusamhara.
• Sudraka: author of Mrichchhakatika ("The Little Clay Cart"), a ten-act prakarana about the poor Brahmin Charudatta and the courtesan Vasantasena. It is notable for its realistic picture of city life and common people.
• Bhavabhuti: author of Uttararamacharita, Mahaviracharita and Malatimadhava. He is famous for karuna rasa; in Uttararamacharita he says that pathos is the one true rasa.

Features of Sanskrit drama

Plays usually open with a nandi (benediction) and a prologue by the sutradhara (stage manager-director). The vidushaka is the comic friend of the hero. Plays generally avoid showing death or violence on stage and end happily.

Traditional theatre forms

• Koodiyattam (Kerala): the oldest surviving form of Sanskrit theatre, performed in temple theatres (koothambalam); recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
• Yakshagana (Karnataka), Jatra (Bengal and Odisha), Tamasha (Maharashtra), Nautanki (Uttar Pradesh), Bhavai (Gujarat), Therukoothu (Tamil Nadu), Ankiya Naat (Assam), Bhand Pather (Kashmir), Swang (Haryana), Maach (Madhya Pradesh) and Ramlila (North India).

Key points

• Bhasa: 13 plays; Svapnavasavadattam; Urubhanga.
• Kalidasa: Shakuntalam; Sudraka: Mrichchhakatika; Bhavabhuti: Uttararamacharita, karuna.
• Sutradhara, nandi, vidushaka are standard elements.
• Koodiyattam = Sanskrit theatre of Kerala, UNESCO-recognised.

Common mistakes

• Attributing Mrichchhakatika to Kalidasa or Bhasa (Bhasa wrote Charudatta, a shorter play on the same story).
• Placing Bhavai in Maharashtra or Tamasha in Gujarat.