স্বাধীনোত্তর যুগে নাট্যধারার প্রবহমানতা/ Post-Independent Bengali Drama on perpetual motion

Abstract

Bengali drama started its journey with translated Sanskrit and English dramas. In the forties drama was forceful weapon to fight against imperialism. For this purpose, Gananatya, later Nabanatya movement was launched. To facilitate natya movement some plays were written. Following Independence Bengali drama was adorned with new dimension. Novelty was found in themes, forms, styles and acting in the plays.

            Dramatist Bijan Bhattacharya, Badal Sirkar, Utpal Dutta, Shambhu Mitra, Manoj Mitra, Mohit Chattopadhyay reflected their thoughts in new styles of their plays.

Dramatists shifted towards socio- political realism and leftist ideology. Events of history and mythology are also reflected in their plays. Socio-Economic disparities, unemployment problem, poverty and other problems of life have got reality in some plays. Utpal Dutta’s ‘Mrityur Atit’ Sourin Sen’s ‘Suryahara’ are mentionable in this regard.

            Besides these, Badal Sirkar revolutionised Bengali drama through his works like ‘Pagla Ghora’ and ‘Ebong Indrajit’. ‘Mokabila’ of Diginchandra Bandhopadhay, ‘Chera Tar’ of Tulsi Lahiri, ‘Natun Yhudi’ of Salil Sen, ‘Rupali Chand’ of Tarun Roy have focused on the real problems of contemporary life.

In the sixties some plays have reflected self-analysis. Manoj Mitra has shown this in his ‘Nilkanther Bish’ and ‘Sajano Bagan’. ‘Amrit Atit’, ‘Santal Bidroho’ and Utpal Dutta’s ‘Tiner Talwar’ have got the plots of conflicts in political ideology.

            Some western plays were translated into Bengali and were successfully staged to perform. Rudraprasad Sengupta composed ‘Sahi Sambad’, ‘Football’ following Western plays.

Later ‘Absurd Drama’ of America and France influenced Bengali play wrights. Mohit Chattopadhyay’s ‘Bhirer Darajay’, Badal Sirkar’s ‘Ebong Indrajit’, are mentionable as Absurd Drama. Besides Gananatya Sangha, Little Theatre, Group-Theatre, Bahurapi, Nandikar have glorified the world of drama.

            At present the subject matter, direction, acting, decoration, lighting, sound system have been modernised to promote closer inter action between the actors and the audience. Post-independence Bengali drama has gradual advancement through experience and experiment to achieve excellence.