Folk Theatre of Karnataka: A Study

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About the Author Basavaraj Donur is a well-known short story writer, novelist, poet, playwright, translator and critic. He is also known for his innovative research in Indian drama in general and Kannada drama in particular. He has many books and papers on drama and theatre to his credit, both in Kannada and English. Donur's study of the folk theatre of Karnataka is quite an ambitious project. It seeks not only to study the theatre but also to analyze folk plays in the context of globalization.

This book becomes singularly significant for one reason. First, it makes an attempt to record the folk theatre of Karnataka from its beginning, paying attention to folk plays, folk artists and folk troupes and talking about the contexts in which folk theatre had to struggle to compete with forces like amateur theatre, film, television to establish its credential as a form of entertainment aiming at social reform and societal well-being. The book will serve as a great source for the scholars interested in Indian folk studies especially in Indian folk theatre, which is still in exists, though not in its original form and shape. Indian folk theatre exists but definitely in a transformed and demystified form and shape.

Introduction People's theatre is called folk theatre. Despite the advent of populist forms of entertainment, folk theatre still continues to entertain people in both rural and urban areas. Folk elements have become an integral part of modern art and literature. Modern drama, theatre, cinema and also various forms of literature owe a good deal to folklore and folk performances. Folk theatre is watched and appreciated all over the country. Skeptics are of the opinion that folk theatre has lost much of its significance. They also view that its appeal will not last long as it is region specific and context specific; the language, the costume and the presentation of it are outdated and because of which it will be wiped out from the scene in the aftermath of globalization. Any art form which is accepted by the mass, whether rural or urban, will last long and will survive the onslaughts of all kinds, of all categories, of all scales and withstand external influences however powerful they may be. Folk theatre which has faced many challenges in the changed global scenario, especially in the aftermath of globalization, is still very active in the rural areas. Though folk plays are being staged all over India, they have undergone radical changes in terms of plot, costume, dialogue and presentation. Modernity has affected all indigenous art forms including folk theatre and folk art.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages