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Parsi theatre

April 26, 2024

Parsi theatre is a generic term for an influential theatre tradition, staged by Parsis, and theatre companies largely-owned by the Parsi business community, which flourished between 1850 and the 1930s.[1] Plays were primarily in the Hindustani language (especially the Urdu dialect), as well as Gujarati to an extent. After its beginning in Bombay, it soon developed into various travelling theatre companies, which toured across India, especially north and western India (now Gujarat and Maharashtra), popularizing proscenium-style theatre in regional languages.[2]

Entertainment-driven and incorporating musical theatre and folk theatre, in the early 1900s, some Parsi theatre producers switched to new media like bioscope and subsequently many became film producers. The theatre diminished in popularity, with the arrival of the talkies era in Hindi cinema in the 1930s. Post-independence, it experienced a revival in the 1950s, much like theatre in the rest of India.[3][4]

History edit

The British community in Bombay had been staging theatre in English language for sometime by the mid-19th century. Parsis were a prominent business community in the city. In early 1850s, the students of Elphinstone College in Mumbai had formed a dramatic society and started performing Shakespeare.[5] The first Parsi Theatre company called "Pārsī Nāṭak Maṇḍali" performed their first play Roostum Zabooli and Sohrab in 1853, followed by King Afrasiab and Rustom Pehlvan and Pādśāh Faredun.[6] By 1860 over 20 Parsi theatre groups were formed in Mumbai.[7]

Sharmistha Gooptu and Bhaumik identify Indo-Persian/Islamicate culture as a major influence on Parsi theatre. Up until the early 20th century, Urdu was the most widely used language in Parsi theater, due to the influence of Urdu poetry. The One Thousand and One Nights (Arabian Nights) also had a strong influence on Parsi theater, which performed "Persianate adventure-romances", which in turn were later adapted into early Bollywood films.[8]

The early plays in Parsi theatre presented Indianized versions of Shakespeare’s plays, by turning them into folk performances, with dozens of songs added in. Soon Indian legends, epic and mythological tales made an appearance as source material. As Parsi theatre companies started travelling across North India, they employed native writers to churn out scripts in Hindustani language, mix of Hindi and Urdu.[9]

Later Parsi plays "blended realism and fantasy, music and dance, narrative and spectacle, earthy dialogue and ingenuity of stage presentation, integrating them into a dramatic discourse of melodrama". For mass appeal the plays incorporated humour, melodious songs and music, sensationalism and stagecraft.[10] The success of Parsi theatre lead to the development of theatre in regional languages notably modern Gujarati theatre, Marathi theatre and Hindi theatre.[11] Later it led to the development of Hindi cinema (Bollywood), the effect of Parsi theatre is still evident in the Masala film genre of Indian cinema, [12][10] and especially in Bollywood film songs.[13] According to screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar, Urdu Parsi theatre's ghazal, thumri and kajri traditions were the basis for Bollywood's filmi-ghazal, thumri and kajri styles of music.[14]

Parsi theatre was also popular in South-East Asia, where it was known as Wyang Parsi and often imitated.[15]

In 1981, Mumbai-based theatre director Nadira Babbar, started her theatre group Ekjute (Together), with the production of Yahudi Ki Ladki, which revived the Parsi theatre style, and is considered one of its finest.[16]

References edit

  1. ^ K, A (2004). Lal, Ananda (ed.). The Oxford companion to Indian theatre. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199861248. OCLC 607157336 – via Oxford Reference.
  2. ^ Nicholson, Rashna Darius (2021). The Colonial Public and the Parsi Stage: The Making of the Theatre of Empire (1853-1893). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 1–2. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-65836-6. ISBN 978-3-030-65835-9. S2CID 234113680.
  3. ^ Kasbekar 2006, p. 50.
  4. ^ Dalmia 2004, p. 60.
  5. ^ Chandawarkar, Rahul (18 December 2011). "Understanding 20th century Parsi theatre". Daily News & Analysis. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  6. ^ "Nicholson 2015, p. 617". South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies. 38: 613–638. doi:10.1080/00856401.2015.1080211. S2CID 146409840.
  7. ^ Palsetia 2001, p. 184.
  8. ^ Gooptu, Sharmistha (2010). Bengali Cinema: 'An Other Nation'. Routledge. p. 38. ISBN 9781136912177.
  9. ^ Hansen, p. 75
  10. ^ a b K. Moti Gokulsing, K. Gokulsing, Wimal Dissanayake (2004). Indian Popular Cinema: A Narrative of Cultural Change. Trentham Books. p. 98.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Hochman 1984, p. 38.
  12. ^ Joughin 1997, p. 129.
  13. ^ Mehta, Rini Bhattacharya; Pandharipande, Rajeshwari (2010). Bollywood and Globalization: Indian Popular Cinema, Nation, and Diaspora. Anthem Press. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-84331-833-0.
  14. ^ Kabir, Nasreen Munni; Akhtar, Javed (2018). Talking Films and Songs: Javed Akhtar in conversation with Nasreen Munni Kabir. Oxford University Press. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-19-909177-5.
  15. ^ Meddegoda, Chinthaka Prageeth; Jähnichen, Gisa (23 September 2016). Hindustani Traces in Malay Ghazal: 'A song, so old and yet still famous'. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN 9781443899987.
  16. ^ "Indian theatre at the crossroads". The Tribune. 25 June 2000. Retrieved 27 August 2014.

Bibliography edit

  • Hochman, Stanley (1984). McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of World Drama: An International Reference Work in 5 Volumes. VNR AG. ISBN 978-0-07-079169-5.
  • Nicholson, Rashna Darius (2015). "Corporeality, Aryanism, Race: The Theatre and Social Reform of the Parsis of Western India". South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies. 38 (4): 613–638. doi:10.1080/00856401.2015.1080211. S2CID 146409840.
  • Palsetia, Jesse S. (2001). The Parsis of India: Preservation of Identity in Bombay City. BRILL. ISBN 90-04-12114-5.
  • Somanath Gupta; tr. Kathryn Hansen (2005). The Parsi Theatre: Its Origins and Development. Seagull Books. ISBN 978-81-7046-273-6.
  • Sandria B. Freitag (1989). "Chapter 2: The Birth of Hindi Drama in Banaras: 1868–1885, by Kathryn Hansen". Culture and power in Banaras: community, performance, and environment, 1800–1980. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-06367-9.
  • Nicholson, Rashna Darius (2021). The Colonial public and the Parsi stage : the making of the theatre of empire (1853-1893). Springer. ISBN 978-3-030-65836-6. OCLC 1241450414.
  • Marfatia, Meher (2011). Laughter in the House!: 20th-century Parsi Theatre. Sooni Taraporevala (photos). 49/50 Books. ISBN 978-81-921367-0-7.
  • Kasbekar, Asha (2006). Pop Culture India!: Media, Arts, and Lifestyle. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-85109-636-7.
  • Joughin, John J. (1997). Shakespeare and National Culture. Manchester University Press. ISBN 978-0-7190-5051-0.
  • Blackburn, Stuart H.; Dalmia, Vasudha (2004). India's Literary History: Essays on the Nineteenth Century. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 978-81-7824-056-5.
  • "History of the Parsi Theatre". Zoroastrian Educational Institute.

April 26, 2024
parsi, theatre, generic, term, influential, theatre, tradition, staged, parsis, theatre, companies, largely, owned, parsi, business, community, which, flourished, between, 1850, 1930s, plays, were, primarily, hindustani, language, especially, urdu, dialect, we. Parsi theatre is a generic term for an influential theatre tradition staged by Parsis and theatre companies largely owned by the Parsi business community which flourished between 1850 and the 1930s 1 Plays were primarily in the Hindustani language especially the Urdu dialect as well as Gujarati to an extent After its beginning in Bombay it soon developed into various travelling theatre companies which toured across India especially north and western India now Gujarat and Maharashtra popularizing proscenium style theatre in regional languages 2 Entertainment driven and incorporating musical theatre and folk theatre in the early 1900s some Parsi theatre producers switched to new media like bioscope and subsequently many became film producers The theatre diminished in popularity with the arrival of the talkies era in Hindi cinema in the 1930s Post independence it experienced a revival in the 1950s much like theatre in the rest of India 3 4 History editThe British community in Bombay had been staging theatre in English language for sometime by the mid 19th century Parsis were a prominent business community in the city In early 1850s the students of Elphinstone College in Mumbai had formed a dramatic society and started performing Shakespeare 5 The first Parsi Theatre company called Parsi Naṭak Maṇḍali performed their first play Roostum Zabooli and Sohrab in 1853 followed by King Afrasiab and Rustom Pehlvan and Padsah Faredun 6 By 1860 over 20 Parsi theatre groups were formed in Mumbai 7 Sharmistha Gooptu and Bhaumik identify Indo Persian Islamicate culture as a major influence on Parsi theatre Up until the early 20th century Urdu was the most widely used language in Parsi theater due to the influence of Urdu poetry The One Thousand and One Nights Arabian Nights also had a strong influence on Parsi theater which performed Persianate adventure romances which in turn were later adapted into early Bollywood films 8 The early plays in Parsi theatre presented Indianized versions of Shakespeare s plays by turning them into folk performances with dozens of songs added in Soon Indian legends epic and mythological tales made an appearance as source material As Parsi theatre companies started travelling across North India they employed native writers to churn out scripts in Hindustani language mix of Hindi and Urdu 9 Later Parsi plays blended realism and fantasy music and dance narrative and spectacle earthy dialogue and ingenuity of stage presentation integrating them into a dramatic discourse of melodrama For mass appeal the plays incorporated humour melodious songs and music sensationalism and stagecraft 10 The success of Parsi theatre lead to the development of theatre in regional languages notably modern Gujarati theatre Marathi theatre and Hindi theatre 11 Later it led to the development of Hindi cinema Bollywood the effect of Parsi theatre is still evident in the Masala film genre of Indian cinema 12 10 and especially in Bollywood film songs 13 According to screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar Urdu Parsi theatre s ghazal thumri and kajri traditions were the basis for Bollywood s filmi ghazal thumri and kajri styles of music 14 Parsi theatre was also popular in South East Asia where it was known as Wyang Parsi and often imitated 15 In 1981 Mumbai based theatre director Nadira Babbar started her theatre group Ekjute Together with the production of Yahudi Ki Ladki which revived the Parsi theatre style and is considered one of its finest 16 References edit K A 2004 Lal Ananda ed The Oxford companion to Indian theatre New Delhi Oxford University Press ISBN 9780199861248 OCLC 607157336 via Oxford Reference Nicholson Rashna Darius 2021 The Colonial Public and the Parsi Stage The Making of the Theatre of Empire 1853 1893 Cham Palgrave Macmillan pp 1 2 doi 10 1007 978 3 030 65836 6 ISBN 978 3 030 65835 9 S2CID 234113680 Kasbekar 2006 p 50 Dalmia 2004 p 60 sfn error no target CITEREFDalmia2004 help Chandawarkar Rahul 18 December 2011 Understanding 20th century Parsi theatre Daily News amp Analysis Retrieved 4 June 2014 Nicholson 2015 p 617 South Asia Journal of South Asian Studies 38 613 638 doi 10 1080 00856401 2015 1080211 S2CID 146409840 Palsetia 2001 p 184 Gooptu Sharmistha 2010 Bengali Cinema An Other Nation Routledge p 38 ISBN 9781136912177 Hansen p 75 a b K Moti Gokulsing K Gokulsing Wimal Dissanayake 2004 Indian Popular Cinema A Narrative of Cultural Change Trentham Books p 98 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Hochman 1984 p 38 Joughin 1997 p 129 Mehta Rini Bhattacharya Pandharipande Rajeshwari 2010 Bollywood and Globalization Indian Popular Cinema Nation and Diaspora Anthem Press p 36 ISBN 978 1 84331 833 0 Kabir Nasreen Munni Akhtar Javed 2018 Talking Films and Songs Javed Akhtar in conversation with Nasreen Munni Kabir Oxford University Press p 114 ISBN 978 0 19 909177 5 Meddegoda Chinthaka Prageeth Jahnichen Gisa 23 September 2016 Hindustani Traces in Malay Ghazal A song so old and yet still famous Cambridge Scholars Publishing ISBN 9781443899987 Indian theatre at the crossroads The Tribune 25 June 2000 Retrieved 27 August 2014 Bibliography editHochman Stanley 1984 McGraw Hill Encyclopedia of World Drama An International Reference Work in 5 Volumes VNR AG ISBN 978 0 07 079169 5 Nicholson Rashna Darius 2015 Corporeality Aryanism Race The Theatre and Social Reform of the Parsis of Western India South Asia Journal of South Asian Studies 38 4 613 638 doi 10 1080 00856401 2015 1080211 S2CID 146409840 Palsetia Jesse S 2001 The Parsis of India Preservation of Identity in Bombay City BRILL ISBN 90 04 12114 5 Somanath Gupta tr Kathryn Hansen 2005 The Parsi Theatre Its Origins and Development Seagull Books ISBN 978 81 7046 273 6 Sandria B Freitag 1989 Chapter 2 The Birth of Hindi Drama in Banaras 1868 1885 by Kathryn Hansen Culture and power in Banaras community performance and environment 1800 1980 University of California Press ISBN 978 0 520 06367 9 Nicholson Rashna Darius 2021 The Colonial public and the Parsi stage the making of the theatre of empire 1853 1893 Springer ISBN 978 3 030 65836 6 OCLC 1241450414 Marfatia Meher 2011 Laughter in the House 20th century Parsi Theatre Sooni Taraporevala photos 49 50 Books ISBN 978 81 921367 0 7 Kasbekar Asha 2006 Pop Culture India Media Arts and Lifestyle ABC CLIO ISBN 978 1 85109 636 7 Joughin John J 1997 Shakespeare and National Culture Manchester University Press ISBN 978 0 7190 5051 0 Blackburn Stuart H Dalmia Vasudha 2004 India s Literary History Essays on the Nineteenth Century Orient Blackswan ISBN 978 81 7824 056 5 History of the Parsi Theatre Zoroastrian Educational Institute Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Parsi theatre amp oldid 1220781202, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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