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Home , Ghashiram Kotwal, Marathi theatre, Tamasha, Vishnudas Bhave

6. ENTERTAINMENT AND HISTORY

6.1 Why do we need entertainment. Entertainment ? Watching a sports match or listening 6.2 Folk to music or watching a movie are examples 6.3 of passive entertainment. In this type of 6.4 Indian Film Industry entertainment we are not actual participants 6.5 Entertainment and but only viewers. Professional Opportunities Do it. Things that help refresh our minds and give a feeling of happiness are the Create a chart of active and passive sources of entertainment. Various hobbies, types of entertainment, which are related to history. games, -film, writing-reading, etc. are the sources of entertainment. 6.2 Folk Theatre 6.1 Why do we need Entertainment ? Puppetry - Wooden Puppets Healthy entertainment of excellent (Kathputali) : Remains of clay dolls have quality is essential for the healthy growth of one’s personality. Entertainment keeps our minds lively and fresh. It may also make us feel physically more energetic. So eventually our efficiency at work improves. Pursuing hobbies and games helps in personality development. In many festivals, sports, dance- music, etc. were developed as forms of entertainment since ancient times. There are varied forms of entertainment available in the Puppetry - Wooden Puppets modern period as well. been found in the excavations of Try to do it. archaeological sites of Harappan Make a list of various types of civilisation as well as sites in Egypt and entertainment and classify them into Greece. It is possible that they were used different categories. as puppets. Entertainment can be classified into In ancient India materials like wood, two categories, active and passive. Active wool, leather, horns and ivory were used entertainment anticipates an individual’s to make puppets. The Kathputali, a mental-physical participation. Practicing of traditional art of puppetry in India has two handicrafts and participating in sport styles; one that developed in Rajasthan activities are examples of active

and the other in southern regions of India. In the 18th century Shyamji Naik Kale The artists who Kathputali shows started a phad*, of Dashavatara artists are found in Uttar Pradesh, , which used to perform all over Maharashtra. Rajasthan, Assam, West , Andhra , the pioneer of Pradesh, Telangana, Karnatak and Kerala. Marathi theatre staged mythological plays The role of the narrator known as by introducing some modifications in the sutradhara is very crucial in the success Dashavatara style. Thus, the origins of the of Kathaputali stage show. The stage for Marathi theatre can be traced to this puppetry show is quite small but the Dashavatara tradition. puppeteers use light and sound effects in *The meaning of phad is ‘a troupe’. an ingenious way. Shadow puppets, hand Bhajan (singing devotional songs) : puppets, wooden puppets and string puppets To sing songs in praise of God and are used in Kathputali shows. chanting god’s name accompanied by Dashavatara Theatre : Dashavatara is instruments like taal (cymbals), mridangam, part of the folk theatre in Maharashtra. pakhavaj is known as Bhajan. There are Dashavatara shows are presented in the two types of Bhajan, Chakri Bhajan and regions of Konkan and Goa after harvesting Songi Bhajan. season is over. The stories presented in Chakri Bhajan : Devotees keep moving these shows are based on the 10 incarnations in circular fashion and sing without break. of Vishnu, namely Matsya, Koorma, Varaha, Songi Bhajan : The singer-actors act Narsimha, Wamana, Parashurama, Ram, as devotees and deliver dialogues in the Krishna, Buddha and Kalki. At the beginning form of devotional songs. of the show sutradhara, the narrator invokes Tukadoji Maharaj introduced a new Lord Ganesha, the destroyer of obstacles. form of Bhajan known as Khanjiri Bhajan.

Do this.

Listen to the bhajans composed by saints Tulsidas, Surdas, Meerabai and Kabir and try to learn them with the help of your music teacher or some traditional singer.

In north India the bhajans composed by Saint Tulsidas, the great poet Surdas, Dashavatara Saint Meerabai and Saint Kabir are very The method of acting, make-up, popular. in Dashavatara shows is set by Compositions of Purandardas, the tradition. The show is mostly musical Kanakdas, Vijaydas, Bodhendraguruswami, but sometimes there may be a few Thyagaraj, etc. are sung in Karnatak. spontaneous dialogues. The characters In Saint Narasi Mehta gave representing gods use wooden masks. The momentum to the Bhakti movement. In show ends by breaking dahihandi, an Maharashtra, Saint Namadeva supported the earthen pot of curds, followed by aarati, tradition of bhajan-keertan through the singing praises of the God. tradition of Varakari sect. The Varakari

sect developed a glorious tradition of instruments, dance and humour. He needs bhajan-keertan. to be very well informed. Keertan is performed in a temple or in the precincts You would like to know this : of a temple. There are two main traditions of Lalit : Lalit is an old form of keertan, (1) Naraadiya or Haridasi entertainment in Maharashtra. It belongs (2) Varakri. Haridasi keertan is a solo . It has two parts, Poorvarang to the tradition of Naradiya Keertan. It is and Uttarrang. Naman (praising god), quite popular in Goa and Konkan. Nirupanacha Abhang (singing a During the performance of Lalit on the composition that leads to the main theme) occasion of religious festivals, it is and Nirupan (explanation of the main presumed that the presiding deity of that theme) comprise the Poorvarang. festival is present on the throne and then Narration of a story to illustrate the main she is invoked for fulfilment of a desire. theme comprises Uttarrang. In the The invocation continues as follows : “Let Varkari Keertan collective participation everybody be granted their desire. Let is more important. The players of cymbals entire village live in happiness till we also an important part along with perform next Lalit. Let the internal the keertankar. During the independence clashes vanish with this performance of movement a new type of Keertan was Lalit. Let nobody’s mind be spoilt with developed, known as Rashtriya Keertan. prejudice. Let all transactions happen It places more importance on creating with clear minds. Let the community’s awareness by narrating the life stories of behaviour be pious.” great leaders of the Indian independence movement, scientists, social reformers, The Lalit is performed in a theatrical etc. The tradition of Rashtriya Keertan style. Stories of Krishana, Rama and great was started by Dattopant Patwardhan of devotees are presented during the Wai in Maharashtra. performance. A few texts of Lalit are Members of the Satyashodhak Samaj available in as well. Lalit forms a founded by Mahatma also part of the backdrop of modern Marathi used Keertan as a medium of creating theatre. social awareness. The style of Keertan by Bharud : Bharud can be described as Saint Gadge Maharaj resembled closely a metaphorical song that has spiritual and to Satyashodhak style of Keertan. He ethical lessons. Bharud is comparable to used to throw light on issues like abolition the style of a road show. Bharuds composed of caste, cleanliness, deaddiction, etc. by Saint Eknath are popular in Maharashtra Keertan : Traditionally, Naradmuni because of its wide range of subjects, is supposed to be the founder of the dramatic quality, easy rhythm and humour. Keertana tradition. Saint Namadev is Saint Eknath composed Bharuds with a known as the first keertankar of purpose of educating people on various Maharashtra. Other saints helped the aspects of life. tradition to flourish. : Tamasha is a Persian The keertankar is also known as word. It means a ‘pleasing sight’. Tamasha Haridas or Kathekaribuva. He has to dress developed as an independent art form in in a traditional way. He needs to train the 18th century, by absorbing various himself in oratory, singing, musical traits of folk theatre and classical arts.

There are two types of traditional Tamasha, as well as the audience is essential for a Sangeet Bari and Dholakicha Phad. Dance successful performance. The theatre and music are more important than drama comprises several factors such as script, in a Sangeet Bari. Tamasha with drama director, artists, make-up, costumes, stage, as the main part, was developed later. It art design (backdrop of the stage), lighting included Vag, the dramatic part, little arrangement, audience and critics. Dance later. The Vag becomes very lively and and music can also be part of a drama. A entertaining because of its spontaneous drama is usually enacted with the help of humour. The show begins by singing the dialogues. However, mime can also be praise of Lord Ganesha, known as Gana. used as the medium of expression. It is followed with the presentation of The rulers of the Bhosale family of Gavalan. The second part of Tamasha Tanjore were great patrons of drama. presents the Vag. The popular plays like Some of them had written a few plays Vichchha Mazi Puri Kara or Gadhavache and also translated plays. The Lagna are examples of the modern form 19th century saw a great development of of Tamasha. the Marathi thetre. Vishnudas Bhave is Powada : Powada is a dramatic known as the father of the Marathi narration by alternatingly reciting poetry theatre. Seetaswayamvar was the first and prosaic extracts. Powada narrates play presented by him. great deeds of heroic men and women in The movement started by Vishnudas a very forceful and inspiring style. The Bhave was followed in Maharashtra by Powada composed by Adnyandas, a historical, mythological and also light contemporary poet of Chhatrapti Shivaji farcical stage plays. The farcical plays Maharaj, narrating the incidence of the dealt with social issues in a humorous way. killing of Afzal Khan and another one on Initially no written scripts were used. the battle of Simhagarh, composed by Often, only the lyrics were written down Tulasidas, are two well-known examples but the dialogues used to be spontaneous. of Powada. V.J. Kirtane was the first author who wrote In the British period, Powadas narrating the script of Thorale Madhavrao Peshwe the stories of Umaji Naik, Chapekar in 1861 and its printed copy was made brothers, Mahatma Gandhi were composed. available. This was the beginning of the During the ‘Samyukt Maharashtra’ tradition of having a complete written movement the powadas were used as a script ready before staging a play. medium of creating public awareness. In the latter half of the 19th century, 6.3 Marathi Theatre Balkrishnbuva Ichalkaranjikar made Theatre is a place devoted to special efforts to introduce classical khyal , either solo or collective, of music in Maharashtra. After him Ustad performing arts. Participation of the artist Alladiya Khan, Ustad Abdul Karim Khan and Ustad Rahimatkhan contributed in a Gather information about great way. Their efforts helped in developing on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji a taste for classical music among the Maharaj, Chhatrapati Sambhaji audience in Maharashtra. The growing Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, popularity of classical music resulted in Lokamanya Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi the origin of musical Marathi theatre. The and Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar. musical plays of Kirloskar Mandali became

very popular. Sangeet Shakuntal written by great actors. The early Marathi playes earned a great were staged on open grounds. The British popularity. Another musical play, Sharada, first built closed like Play House, written by Govind Ballal Deval is quite Rippon and Victoria in . Thereafter, important, as it comments in a humorous the shows of Marathi plays gradually took style on the evil custom of marrying young to closed theatres. girls to aged men. Also plays such as

Mooknayak, written by Shripad Krishna Do you know ? Kolahtkar, Sangeet Manapaman, written by Krishnaji Prabhakar Khadilkar and The renowned author-poet Vishnu Ekach Pyala written by Ram Ganesh Waman Shirwadkar, also known as Gadkari are important in the history of Kusumagraj wrote Natasamrat, a play Marathi theatre. styled after Shakespeare’s well known play, ‘King Lear’. It became very

Do you know ? popular. Ganpatrao Belvalkar, the tragic protagonist of Natasamrat represents a Khadilkar wrote Keechakvadh, a blend of two well-known personalities metaphorical drama to denounce the of early Marathi stage, Ganpatrao Joshi British government. It was based on certain events in the Mahabharata. and Nanasaheb Phatak.

Draupadi represented helpless Mother 6.4 Indian film Industry India, while Yudhishthira represented the moderates and Bheem, the extremists. Cinema : Cinema is a medium that Keechaka represented the insolent brings together art and technology. With the Viceroy Lord Curzon. The audience used technology of motion pictures the film to percieve the characters in this fashion industry came into being. It gave rise to the and feel enraged about the imperialistic era of silent movies. Later, the technology attitude of the British government. of sound recording was introduced and the age of sound movies began. The popular plays written by Acharya Atre like Sashtang Namaskar, Udyacha Sansar, Gharabaher etc. helped the Do you know ? Marathi theatre to sustain through a Types of movies : Satirical movies, temporary decline. The recent plays based Documentaries, Advertising films, on historical themes like Raygadala Jevha Children’s films, Movies about army, Jag Yete and Ithe Oshalala Mrutyu by Educational movies, Movies narrating a Vasant Kanetkar, by story, etc. , Tilak Ani Agarkar by Vishram Bedekar became very popular. The honour of making and releasing The Marathi stage continued to get the first full length movie goes to enriched because of its varied subjects and Maharashtra. Maharashtra is known as the types of the plays. Marathi stage artists of land that nurtured the Indian film industry. the bygone era like Ganpatrao Joshi, The contribution of Madanrao Madhavrao Narayanrao Rajahamsa, more popularly Pitale, the Patwardhan family of Kalyan, known as Balgandharva, Keshavrao Harishchandra Sakharam Bhatvadekar, Bhosale, Chintamanrao Kolhatkar and also known as Savedada is very important Ganpatrao Bodas are still remembered as in the development of Indian movies.

Later, Gopal Ramchandra Torane which was a silent one. He also created also known as Dadasaheb Torane and historical movies like Kalyancha Khajina, A. P. Karandikar, S. N. Patankar, V. P. Bajiprabhu Deshapande and Netaji Palkar. Divekar sought He also made a movie on a realistic help from Foreign social issue, entitled Savakari Pash. In technicians and 1925 Bhalaji Pendharkar made a movie made a movie entitled Bajirao-Mastani. However the entitled Pundalik. It British government suspected it to be a was released in medium of spreading nationalistic Mumbai in 1912. sentiments and it was banned. Raja Harischandra, Kamalabai Mangarulkar was the first a movie directed woman producer. She produced Savalya Dadasaheb Torane by Dadasaheb Tandel and Panaa Dai (Hindi). Ramshastri, Phalke was the first to be processed a movie made by Prabhat Company in completely in India. It was released in 1944 became very popular. In the post- Mumbai, in 1913. independence period a few movies were He also created made on historical themes. Aacharya Atre silent movies made a movie on the life of Mahatma named as Mohini- Phule and Vishram Bedekar made movie Bhasmasur, Savitri- on the life of Vasudev Balwant Phadke. Satyavana, also Dinakar D. Patil made a movie entitled, documentaries on Dhanya te Santaji Dhanaji. Bal Shivaji, the the rock-cut caves movie made by Prabhakar Pendhakar also of Verul and needs a special mention. pilgrim centres of and Dadasaheb Phalke Sant Tukaram is a movie to have Tryambakeshwar. Later, a tradition of received international acclaim. It was making movies on historical and shown in the international film festival mythological subjects came into being. in Paris. Vishnupant Pagnis acted as Saint Tukaram in this film. Anandrao Painter, the first one to make a cine-camera of Indian make, also Let us find out : got interested in the making of movies. Let us search on the internet the His cousin Baburao Painter, also known names of historical movies, which are as ‘Mistri’, made Sairandhri in 1918. He not mentioned in this lesson and let us made the first historical movie, Simhgarh, make a list of those names. You would like to know this : Historical movies were also made in The government of India created a Hindi. The Hindi movies made in the pre- special division for making documentaries. Independence period, Sikandar, Tansen, It was named as ‘Films division’. The Samrat Chandragupta, Prithvivallabha and documentaries released by this division Mughal-e-Azam were made with a historical used to be shown in the cinema theatres backdrop. Dr Kotanis ki Amar Kahani was before the beginning of the main movie. based on a true story. The movies based They were aimed at creating public on the Indian struggle for independence awareness about various issues. Gather such as Andolan, Zansi ki Rani, also more information about it. deserve a mention.

Let us find out : essential. Experts in these fields can work Find out the names of historical as art directors or consultants. Marathi movies made during the period (2) The script writers as well as of 1970-2015 with the help of internet. dialogue writers need assistance of experts in languages and the history of languages, Production studios such as ‘Bombay as well as experts in cultural history of Talkies’, ‘Rajkamal Productions’, ‘R.K. a given period. Studios’, ‘Navketan’, etc. played a Cinema : (1) The art directors of significant role in the development of movies create the backdrop designs of Indian film industry. atmosphere, costumes and jewellery, make- 6.5 Entertainment and Professional up, hair styles, etc., suitable to the times Opportunities of the theme of the movie. Scholars of The students of history can avail of history can work in this field as art many professional opportunities in the directors or as consultant to the art director. fields of drama and movies. (2) To write movie dialogues, Drama : (1) In order to achieve knowledge of the culture and language as accuracy of stage backdrops on the stage spoken in the concerned period is necessary. deep knowledge of the history of arts and Experts in these fields can find many architecture of the concerned period is professional opportunities.