Why Do We Need Entertainment?
Purpose of Entertainment: Entertainment refreshes our mind, brings happiness, and keeps us energetic. It improves our work efficiency and supports personality development.
Sources of Entertainment: Hobbies, games, drama, films, reading, and writing are common sources.
Historical Context: In ancient India, festivals, sports, dance, and music were popular forms of entertainment.
Modern Entertainment: Today, various forms like movies, music, and sports continue to entertain people.
Types of Entertainment:
- Active Entertainment: Involves mental or physical participation, e.g., playing sports, practicing handicrafts.
- Passive Entertainment: Involves watching or listening, e.g., watching movies, listening to music.
Activity: Make a chart listing active and passive entertainment related to history (e.g., Active: participating in historical reenactments; Passive: watching historical movies).
6.2 Folk Theatre
Folk theatre is a traditional form of entertainment in India, often performed in rural areas with cultural and historical significance.
Puppetry (Kathputali)
History: Clay dolls found in Harappan, Egyptian, and Greek sites suggest ancient puppetry. In India, puppets were made from wood, wool, leather, horns, and ivory.
Styles: Two main styles from Rajasthan and South India.
Regions: Performed in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Assam, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala.
Features:
- Small stage with light and sound effects.
- Narrator (Sutradhara) plays a key role.
- Types: Shadow, hand, wooden, and string puppets.
Dashavatara Theatre
Region: Performed in Konkan and Goa after the harvest season.
Stories: Based on the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu (Matsya, Koorma, Varaha, Narsimha, Wamana, Parashurama, Ram, Krishna, Buddha, Kalki).
Features:
- Begins with invoking Lord Ganesha.
- Traditional acting, makeup, and costumes.
- Musical with occasional spontaneous dialogues.
- Gods wear wooden masks.
- Ends with breaking a curd pot (Dahi Handi) and singing Aarti.
Historical Impact: Vishnudas Bhave, the pioneer of Marathi theatre, modified Dashavatara to create modern Marathi plays.
Bhajan
Definition: Singing devotional songs in praise of God, accompanied by instruments like cymbals (Taal), Mridangam, or Pakhavaj.
Types:
- Chakri Bhajan: Devotees sing while moving in a circle without breaks.
- Songi Bhajan: Singers act as devotees and deliver dialogues through songs.
- Khanjiri Bhajan: Introduced by Tukadoji Maharaj.
Popular Saints:
- North India: Tulsidas, Surdas, Meerabai, Kabir.
- Karnataka: Purandardas, Kanakdas, Vijaydas, Thyagaraj.
- Gujarat: Narasi Mehta.
- Maharashtra: Namadeva (Varakari sect).
Activity: Learn bhajans by Tulsidas, Surdas, Meerabai, or Kabir with a music teacher.
Keertan
Definition: A storytelling performance praising God, often with music and dance.
Founder: Traditionally linked to Naradmuni; Saint Namadeva was the first Keertankar in Maharashtra.
Types:
- Naraadiya/Haridasi Keertan: Solo performance with two parts:
- Poorvarang: Praising God, singing Abhang, explaining the theme.
- Uttarrang: Narrating a story to illustrate the theme.
- Varakari Keertan: Group performance with cymbals and collective participation.
- Rashtriya Keertan: Started by Dattopant Patwardhan to create awareness about independence leaders, scientists, and reformers.
Satyashodhak Keertan: Used by Mahatma Jyotirao Phule’s Satyashodhak Samaj to address social issues like caste, cleanliness, and deaddiction (Saint Gadge Maharaj).
Lalit
Definition: An old form of Naradiya Keertan popular in Maharashtra, Goa, and Konkan.
Performance: Performed during religious festivals, invoking the deity for happiness and harmony.
Features: Theatrical style with stories of Krishna, Rama, and devotees; some Lalit texts are in Hindi.
Bharud
Definition: Metaphorical songs with spiritual and ethical lessons, composed by Saint Eknath.
Features: Popular in Maharashtra for their dramatic quality, humor, and easy rhythm; used to educate people.
Tamasha
Definition: A Persian word meaning “pleasing sight”; developed in the 18th century combining folk and classical arts.
Types:
- Sangeet Bari: Focus on dance and music.
- Dholakicha Phad: Focus on drama (Vag) with spontaneous humor.
Structure:
- Starts with Gana (praising Lord Ganesha).
- Followed by Gavalan and Vag (dramatic part).
Examples: Plays like Vichchha Mazi Puri Kara and Gadhavache Lagna.
Powada
Definition: A dramatic ballad narrating heroic deeds through poetry and prose.
Examples:
- Adnyandas: Powada on Shivaji Maharaj killing Afzal Khan.
- Tulasidas: Powada on the Battle of Sinhagad.
British Period: Powadas about Umaji Naik, Chapekar brothers, and Mahatma Gandhi.
Samyukt Maharashtra Movement: Used to create public awareness.
6.3 Marathi Theatre
Definition: A performance art involving scripts, actors, directors, makeup, costumes, stage design, lighting, and audience.
Origin: Rooted in Dashavatara theatre; Vishnudas Bhave is the father of Marathi theatre.
First Play: Seetaswayamvar by Vishnudas Bhave.
Development:
- 19th century: Historical, mythological, and farcical plays (social issues with humor).
- Initially, no written scripts; dialogues were spontaneous.
- V.J. Kirtane wrote the first script for Thorale Madhavrao Peshwe (1861).
Classical Music Influence:
- Balkrishnbuva Ichalkaranjikar, Ustad Alladiya Khan, Ustad Abdul Karim Khan, and Ustad Rahimatkhan popularized classical Khyal music.
- Led to musical Marathi theatre (e.g., Kirloskar Mandali).
Notable Plays:
- Sangeet Shakuntal by Annasaheb Kirloskar.
- Sharada by Govind Ballal Deval (critiqued marrying young girls to old men).
- Mooknayak by Shripad Krishna Kolahtkar.
- Sangeet Manapaman by Krishnaji Prabhakar Khadilkar.
- Ekach Pyala by Ram Ganesh Gadkari.
- Keechakvadh by Khadilkar (metaphor against British rule).
- Natasamrat by Vishnu Waman Shirwadkar (Kusumagraj), inspired by Shakespeare’s King Lear.
- Raygadala Jevha Jag Yete by Vasant Kanetkar.
- Ghashiram Kotwal by Vijay Tendulkar.
- Tilak Ani Agarkar by Vishram Bedekar.
Famous Actors: Ganpatrao Joshi, Balgandharva, Keshavrao Bhosale, Chintamanrao Kolhatkar, Ganpatrao Bodas.
Venues: Early plays on open grounds; later in closed theatres like Play House, Rippon, and Victoria in Mumbai.
Activity: Gather information about dramas on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, Lokamanya Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.
6.4 Indian Film Industry
Definition: Cinema combines art and technology, starting with silent movies and later sound movies.
Maharashtra’s Role: Known as the cradle of the Indian film industry.
Pioneers:
- Dadasaheb Phalke: Made Raja Harischandra (1913), the first fully Indian-processed silent movie. Also made Mohini Bhasmasur, Savitri Satyavana, and documentaries on Verul caves and Nashik-Tryambakeshwar.
- Madanrao Madhavrao Pitale, Patwardhan family, Harishchandra Sakharam Bhatvadekar (Savedada): Early contributors.
- Dadasaheb Torane, A.P. Karandikar, S.N. Patankar, V.P. Divekar: Made Pundalik (1912).
- Anandrao Painter: Created the first Indian cine-camera.
- Baburao Painter: Made Sairandhri (1918) and the first historical movie Simhgarh.
Historical Movies:
- Kalyancha Khajina, Bajiprabhu Deshapande, Netaji Palkar by Dadasaheb Phalke.
- Savakari Pash (social issue) by Phalke.
- Bajirao-Mastani by Bhalaji Pendharkar (banned by British).
- Ramshastri by Prabhat Company (1944).
- Sant Tukaram: Internationally acclaimed, shown at Paris film festival.
- Post-independence: Movies on Mahatma Phule, Vasudev Balwant Phadke, Santaji Dhanaji, and Bal Shivaji.
Hindi Historical Movies:
- Pre-independence: Sikandar, Tansen, Samrat Chandragupta, Prithvivallabha, Mughal-e-Azam.
- Independence struggle: Andolan, Zansi ki Rani, Dr Kotanis ki Amar Kahani.
Studios: Bombay Talkies, Rajkamal Productions, R.K. Studios, Navketan.
Films Division: Government division for documentaries to create public awareness, shown before movies in theatres.
Activity: Search online for historical Marathi movies from 1970-2015 and make a list.
6.5 Entertainment and Professional Opportunities
Drama:
- Art Directors/Consultants: Need knowledge of historical arts and architecture for accurate stage backdrops.
- Script/Dialogue Writers: Require experts in historical languages and cultural history.
Cinema:
- Art Directors/Consultants: Design historically accurate sets, costumes, jewelry, makeup, and hairstyles.
- Dialogue Writers: Need knowledge of period-specific culture and language.
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