Theatre of Uttar Pradesh: Legacy of Tradition

Theatre of Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh is a landlocked state with firm roots in Indian history, culture, and tradition. The place holds a formidable reputation for the manifestation of artistic expression since time immemorial. It never lags in its contribution to theatre performances in India. UP Theatre carries the richness of the state, combining ancient rituals, mythologies, folk tales, and modern narrations. The huge land of Uttar Pradesh has opened its vastness to an extremely diversified dynamic theatrical landscape, from Nautanki and Ramlila folk theatre forms to the intellectually charged modern versions of these styles.

The main objective of this blog would be to trace out the origin and development of theatre in Uttar Pradesh, the most prominent folk theatre forms, the emergence of modern theatre, and key personnel who have shaped its evolution.

Historical Perspective of Theatre in Uttar Pradesh

Drama is so developed in Uttar Pradesh that it would account for performances dating from time immemorial. The first form of drama can be traced to religious rituals and temple performances, finally developing into more concretized forms of theatrical expression. During the medieval ages, places like Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Mathura saw the Ramlila, religious performances that flourished across the nation.
Modern theatre would hardly have taken its form and shape before the arrival of colonialism in the 19th century when influences from Western dramaturgy and performances started to set in. Despite the influence, folk theatre in Uttar Pradesh remained attached to the cultural and social life of its people.

The Folk-Theatre Traditions of Uttar Pradesh
Folks theatre of Uttar Pradesh is one of the most elaborate and colorful in the country. Essentially, such performances have been a reflection as well as an exposure of the lives, beliefs, and customs of the people. They are staged under the open sky, at times during festivals or religious occasions, important events, characteristically representing exuberant music, improvisation, and interaction with the audience.

1. Nautanki: The Melodious Folk Theatre
   Indeed, it is perhaps the most iconic folk theatre form in Uttar Pradesh which went on to emerge as the major means of popular theatre in North India during the late 19th century and carved its way into villages and towns.

Salient features of Nautanki:
As a whole, nautanki is a form of musical theatre as it uses songs to help narrate the story. The traditional set of instruments meant for accompanying the shows includes the dholak, harmonium, and sarangi. Most of the time, the actors will be singing their lines in the song, and this makes the performance equal to music as well as acting.
Engaging Storylines: Overall, Nautanki would be based on epics, historical romance, or a social theme. Stories based on bravery, love, and righteousness are more often enacted, popularly inspired by a local legend or folk tale. It is presented in the form of a keen amalgamation of wit, drama, and emotion that engulfs the audience.
Nautanki depicts bright and colorful costumes with elaborative sets to perform exuberance. Traditional costumes with simple stage designs are commonly used, though added for extra vividness in the performance.
Nautanki is highly interactive in performance; the artists relate directly to the audience. Most of the dialogues are based on humor with satire on the current social and political situations.
Over time, Nautanki has expanded to include current themes in issues of gender, corruption, and social justice, all right next to the traditional heroic stories of love.

2. Ram Leela: The Divine Epic Theatre
   Of all the forms of theatre lauded and performed in Uttar Pradesh, it is only Ramlila that perfumes the region. Played once every year during the Dussehra festival that occurs throughout most other places in the country, it is of particular importance in Uttar Pradesh-places like Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Ramnagar. It’s a performance of the holy Hindu epic, the Ramayana.

Key Features of Ramlila
Play of the Epic: Ramlila is a dramatic enactment of the life of Lord Rama from birth to the final victory over the demon king Ravana. It is an intense spiritual and religious presentation lasting for many days, with each day focusing on specific chapters of the great epic Ramayana.
Spiritual Ambiance: The performances are full of spirituality, as actors are portrayed as deities-the various Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman. Not only is an audience a witness during the performance, but the performer also becomes a devotee. Hence, Ramlila can also be seen as a mass enjoyment of faith.
Unembellished Staging: Compared to the other folk theaters, the performances of Ramlila usually are light in stage and properties. The elaborateness of the stage or costume is immaterial; it is the narrative and the religious importance of the story that is vital.
Community Involvement: Normally, a full community takes part in the Ramlila performance, with the residents of the area participating as distinct characters. Community involvement collectively makes Ramlila more of a spiritual experience than just an ordinary theater performance for both the performers and the audience.
Still, the Ramlila does not denote its value as a theatrical entity. A cultural legacy, inbred in the religio-social life of UP, was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

3. Bhagat: Devotional folk theatre
   On the other hand, Bhagat is the other form of folk theatre in Uttar Pradesh but is mainly performed in the Bundelkhand area. Bhagat forms a part of religious theater for the depiction of the lives of saints, religious heads, and teachings of Hinduism. Bhagat’s enactment goes deep into the spiritual concept mainly undertaken during religious festivals and congregations as a method of storytelling.

Characteristics of Bhagat :
Religious Themes: Most performances of Bhagat draw their themes from Hindu mythology, the life of some saint, or teachings from sacred books. Performed with a sense of piety, the performances aim at teaching and inspiring the viewers with moral and spiritual value-based lessons.
Music and Hymns: There is one thing that goes with Bhagat performances: music. The actors render devotional songs or hymns. Manjira (cymbals) and dholak musical instruments are used in the performance to maintain a rhythmic atmosphere of meditation.
The staging is also minimalist, for the most part—much like the costumes. The narration and spiritual message have to take the lead. The actors are dressed in traditional attire, and the plays go on in open spaces—including village squares or temple courtyards.

Bhagat is the bridge between theatre and religious devotion, functioning like a Ramlila to both entertain and spiritually educate the audience.

4. Alha Udal: The Warrior Epic Theatre
   Alha Udal or Alha Mridang is the name given to ‘folk theatre’ prevalent in the Bundelkhand region spread across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. It relates to the epic battles and expeditions of two medieval warriors called Alha and Udal.

Salient features of Alha Udal :
Heroic Themes: Alha Udal’s performances present quasi-historical themes of heroic feats by the two brothers, their wars against invaders, and loyalty towards the king. Values that will be portrayed are bravery, loyalty, and sacrifice.
Balladic Form: Most of the stories were narrated in a balladic form wherein actors or performers sing and tell in an epic fashion, often rhyming. The performances go with traditional music, such as the daf and tabla. Community Participation: Akin to most folk theaters of Uttar Pradesh, an Alha Udal performance is also a community activity where the villagers come together to witness the heroic stories of their forefathers being played out.

The Modern Theatre of Uttar Pradesh

While folk theatre remains an integral part of Uttar Pradesh’s cultural life, modern theatre has acquired a significant foothold, particularly in sprawling urban metropolises like Lucknow, Kanpur, and Allahabad (Prayagraj). Much modern theatre in Uttar Pradesh is heavily influenced by Western theatre traditions and often performs themes of contemporary relevance about social, political, and cultural matters.

Founding of Theatre Institutions Many drama societies and theatre institutions participated in the development of modern theatre in Uttar Pradesh. Most importantly, among them is the Bhartendu Natya Academy of Lucknow for theatre training; named after the greatest playwright Bhartendu Harishchandra, who is often hailed as the father of modern Hindi theatre, it has, in its role, produced many talented actors, directors, and playwrights who have contributed greatly to the growth of theatre in this region. These would now include, contemporarily, the Prithvi Theatre Festival in Mumbai, and the Lucknow Mahotsav, among many other theatre festivals hosting contemporary work and traditional forms that are fused with contemporary narratives. 2. Topics in Modern Theatre Contemporary Uttar Pradesh theatre enjoys a broad base of themes, touching upon every burning social and political issue. Major themes are reflected in the following: Caste and Social Hierarchy: The plays that reflect upon the deeply ingrown caste culture of Uttar Pradesh spoke to issues of discrimination, social inequality, and resistance. Social problems: Much of the time, this state’s modern theatre is engaged with issues of gender, femininity rights, and the sad plight of women in village and city life. Political Satire: Most modern plays use satire as a medium to lash out at political corruption, bureaucracy, and social injustice with the rich tradition in Indian theatre. Influence of Famous Personalities There are a few important personalities who developed theatre in Uttar Pradesh. Bhartendu Harishchandra is considered the father of modern Hindi theatre. He brought the theatrical forms to the front stage of cultural concern in the state. All the contemporary theatre with social and political themes in the state was built upon his plays.