Indian Drama and Mahesh Dattani: A Perspective

Drama is not only an artistic expression of life but also a tool for social transformation. It has been providing entertainment round the world with themes centered on the life styles of people of various regions besides helping them discuss their social issues while instilling dynamism among them. In India, drama began its journey with Sanskrit plays and Natyashastra is the oldest text of its theory. Drama that developed in medieval age was based on oral traditions and included the folk and regional theatre like Raslila, Ramlila and Nautanki. After independence the Indian drama was greatly enriched by GirishKarnad, Vijay Tendulkar, and Mohan Rakesh who produced their drama in regional languages like Kannada, Marathi and Hindi. Mahesh Dattani is the most important contemporary dramatist who appeared on the horizon in the late twentieth century and contributed to Indian drama through his extraordinary plays. Passing through various stages Indian drama got an independent identity and cognizance in Dattani’s plays. Dattani is included to the category of the dramatists who champion the cause of true art that is free from any theory, universal in test and appealing to all the sections of society. Dattani explores the contemporary social issues which are considered to be tabooed in Indian society like gays, lesbians, eunuchs, bisexuals and women. He effectively uses drama as a powerful tool to present the reality and bring about a necessary social change. The present paper is an endeavour to contextualize the contribution of Mahesh Dattani in the integrity of theatrical tradition.