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{{Short description|none}}
{{more citations needed|date= May 2010}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
[[File:Nabanna Bengali theatre scene.png|thumb|A scene from ''[[Nabanna (drama)|Nabanna]]''.]]
{{Culture of Bengal}}
'''Bengali theatre''' primarily refers to theatre performed in the [[Bengali language]]. Bengali theatre is produced mainly in [[West Bengal]], and in [[Bangladesh]]. The term may also refer to some [[Hindi theatre]]s which are accepted by the Bengali people.

Bengali theatre has its origins in British rule. It began as private entertainment in the early 19th century.<ref name="kundu">{{cite book |last=Kundu |first=Pranay K. |year=1988 |chapter=Development of Stage and Theatre Music in Bengal |editor-last=Banerjee |editor-first=Jayasri |title=The Music of Bengal |location=Baroda |publisher=Indian Musicological Society |oclc=19624659}}</ref> In the pre-independence period, Bengali theatres played a pivotal role in manifesting dislike of the [[British Raj]]. After the independence of India in 1947, leftist movements in [[West Bengal]] used theatre as a tool for social awareness. This added some unique characteristics to the art form that still have strong effects. These groups differentiate themselves ideologically from commercial Bengali theatre.{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}}

==Types==
[[File:Tohar Gaon.jpg|thumb|Play ''Tohar Gaon Bhi Ek Din'' staged by ''Sreejansena'' group]]
The many theatres in [[West Bengal]] can be broadly divided into [[Kolkata]]-based theatres and rural theatres. Outside Bengali-speaking areas, the term "Bengali theatre" primarily refers to Kolkata-based groups, as the rural theatres are less well-known. The two types are similar in form and content, but the Kolkata-based theatres are better funded and staffed. This is mainly due to the influx of expertise from rural areas to Kolkata in search of a larger audience.{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}}

There are also Bengali [[Folk culture|folk]] theatres. There are many dialects of Bengali spoken in [[West Bengal]] and Bangladesh. The larger Bengali theatres use the dialect spoken in Kolkata, Bengali folk theatres have performances in some of the other Bengali dialects.

There is another category of Bengali theatre called [[Jatra (Bengal)|Jatra]], which is run commercially in rural [[West Bengal]] and Bangladesh. This traditional Bengali theatre form is mostly performed by travelling troupes. The most prominent characteristics of Jatra are melodramatic contents and presentation, exaggerated expressions and movements, and an extensive use of traditional musical instruments. Jatra originally explored subjects concerning the tales of [[Radha-Krishna]]. But at present, it has been modernized to feature crisis through stories.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bhattacharjee |first1=S. |last2=Thomas |first2=C. J. |year=2013 |title=Society, Representation and Textuality: The Critical Interface |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZVC8kgEACAAJ |publisher=SAGE Publications |isbn=978-81-321-0953-2 |lccn=2012044258}}</ref> Many popular Bengali film artists participate in Jatra.

[[Hindi theatre]]s which are accepted by the Bengali people include the productions of ''[[Rangakarmee]]'' (established 1976) directed by [[Usha Ganguly]], and productions by ''[[Padatik (Indian theatre group)|Padatik]]'' (established 1972) under [[Shyamanand Jalan]], who started with ''Anamika'' in 1955.<ref>{{cite book |last=Dharwadker |first=Aparna Bhargava |date=2005 |title=Theatres of Independence: Drama, Theory, and Urban Performance in India Since 1947 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mLQaz-12Eo8C&pg=PA401 |publisher=University of Iowa Press |page=440 |isbn=0-87745-961-4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Ahuja |first=Chaman |date=29 October 1997 |title=Calcutta, home to Hindi Theatre |url=http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/advertise.nsf/%28docid%29/70B426B140A9AA74652569420029534A |newspaper=The Hindu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725211658/http://www.cscsarchive.org:8081/MediaArchive/advertise.nsf/%28docid%29/70B426B140A9AA74652569420029534A |archive-date=25 July 2011 |via=Centre for the Study of Culture and Society Media Archive |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Following the [[independence of Pakistan]] in 1947, religion-based nationalism was strong and affected the theatre in eastern Bengal. In [[East Pakistan]] (modern-day Bangladesh), playwrights emerged such as Ibrahim Khan (1894–1978), Ibrahim Khalil (b. 1916), Akbar ad-Din (1895–1978) and others. These playwrights would create plays related to the Islamic history of [[the subcontinent]] and Middle East, glorifying past Muslim rulers as well as the history of the [[Pakistan Movement]].<ref>{{cite Banglapedia |article=Theatre |author=Zillur Rahman John}}</ref>

[[Natyaguru]] [[Nurul Momen]] was the pioneer by breaking away from these dramas glorifying Islam & moved to Bengali Nationalism. He believed that, Bengalis are Bengalis first, then next comes his religion. He was the trailblazer & doyen of Bengali theatre's progressiveness & secular tradition. [[Natyaguru]] [[Nurul Momen]]'s maiden play "Rupantor" and 2nd play [[Nemesis (Momen play)]] ushered in the Bengali nationalism in Bengali theatre; which imbibed Bengali nationalism in the theatrical & cultural fields and eventually, that led to the independence of [[Bangladesh]].

==Music==
The late 19th- and early 20th-century theatres had their own [[Bengali music]].<ref name="kundu"/> This form was pioneered by [[Girish Chandra Ghosh]]; the era of Bengali theatre before him laid the groundwork, and after his death Bengali theatre music became more experimental.<ref name="kundu"/> During the era of Girish Chandra, all stage-plays included some form of traditional Bengali music, and dancer-singers who performed before and between the acts. Mythological plays would have [[Kirtan-anga]] songs, epics would include indigenous styles such as [[khyāmtā]], and comedies and farcical plays often included [[tappā]] songs by [[Nidhu Babu]].<ref name="kundu"/>

==Notable people==
===Bangladesh===
* [[Abdullah al Mamun (playwright)|Abdullah Al Mamun]]
* [[Abdul Kader (actor)|Abdul Kader]]
* [[Abul Hayat]]
* [[Abul Khair (actor)|Abul Khair]]
* Abdullah Hel Mahmud
* [[Afsana Mimi]]
* [[Ahmed Rubel]]
* [[Aly Zaker]]
* [[Asaduzzaman Noor]]
* [[ATM Shamsuzzaman]]
* [[Azizul Hakim]]
* [[Bijori Barkatullah]]
* [[Ejajul Islam]]
* [[Enamul Haque (actor)|Enamul Haque]]
* [[Ferdousi Mazumder]]
* Faiz Zahir
* [[Golam Mustafa]]
* [[Hridi Haq]]ue
* [[Humayun Faridi]]
* [[Jayanta Chattopadhyay]]
* [[Khairul Alam Sabuj]]
* [[KS Firoz]]
* [[Laila Hasan]]
* [[Litu Anam]]
* [[Lucky Enam]]
* [[Lutfun Nahar Lata]]
* [[Malay Bhowmick]]
* [[Mamunur Rashid]]
* [[Masud Ali Khan]]
* [[Momtazuddin Ahmed (dramatist)|Momtazuddin Ahmed]]
* [[Munier Choudhury]]
* [[Nasiruddin Yousuff]]
* [[Nazma Anwar]]
* [[Nazmul Huda Bachchu]]
* [[Natyaguru]] [[Nurul Momen]]
* [[Sara Zaker]]
* [[Saleh Ahmed (actor)|Saleh Ahmed]]
* [[Shabnam]]
* [[Shahiduzzaman Selim]]
* [[Shamima Nazneen]]
* [[Shanta Islam]]
* [[Sikandar Abu Zafar]]
* [[Selim Al Deen]]
* [[Subhash Dutta]]
* [[Suborna Mustafa]]
* [[Tamalika Karmakar]]
* [[Wahida Mollick Jolly]]

===West Bengal===
* [[Ajitesh Bandopadhyay]]
* [[Asit Bandopadhyay]]
* [[Sisir Bhaduri]]
* [[Ardhendu Sekhar Mustafi]]
* [[Bijon Bhattacharya]]
* [[Kshirode Prasad Vidyavinode]]
* [[Mohit Chattopadhyay]]
* [[Utpal Dutt]]
* [[Michael Madhusudan Dutta]]
* [[Girish Chandra Ghosh]]
* [[Debshankar Haldar]]
* [[Dinabandhu Mitra]]
* [[Manoj Mitra]]
* [[Sambhu Mitra]]
* [[Tripti Mitra]]
* [[Shobha Sen]]
* [[Soumitra Chattopadhyay]]
* [[Dwijendralal Ray]]
* [[Badal Sarkar]]
* [[Rudraprasad Sengupta]]
* [[Jyotirindranath Tagore]]
* [[Rabindranath Tagore]]
* [[Ramaprasad Banik]]
* [[Kaushik Sen]]
* [[Bratya Basu]]
* [[Goutam Halder]]
* Arun Mukherjee
* [[Anirban Bhattacharya]]
* [[Debesh Chattopadhyay]]

==Notable theatre groups==
===Bangladesh===

* Dhaka Theatre – Founded in 1973 by Nasiruddin Yusuf; one of the leading theatre groups in Bangladesh and known for productions rooted in Bengali folk traditions.<ref name="NTIB">{{cite web |title=Group Theatre Movement |url=https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php/Group_Theatre_Movement |website=Banglapedia |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bangladesh |access-date=12 March 2026}}</ref>

* [[Nagorik Natya Sampraday]] – Established in 1968 in Dhaka; one of the earliest modern theatre organisations in Bangladesh.<ref name="NTIB"/>

* Aranyak Natyadal – A Dhaka-based theatre troupe founded in 1971 and led by Mamunur Rashid.<ref name="NTIB"/>

* Theatre (Baily Road) – A theatre company established in 1972 by Abdullah Al Mamun and Ramendu Mazumdar.<ref name="NTIB"/>

* Natyachakra – A theatre group founded in Dhaka in 1972 and active in the Bangladeshi group theatre movement.<ref name="NTIB"/>

* [[Padatik Natya Sangsad]] – Founded in 1978; known for productions addressing social issues and national history. <ref>{{cite news |title=Padatik celebrates its theatre legacy |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/arts-entertainment/theatre/news/padatik-celebrates-its-theatre-legacy-1802713 |work=The Daily Star |date=23 September 2019 |access-date=12 March 2026}}</ref>

* [[Anushilan Natyadal]] – Established in 1979 in Rajshahi and known for socially conscious stage and street theatre.<ref>{{cite news |title=Anushilan continues theatre activism |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/arts-entertainment/theatre/news/anushilan-continues-theatre-activism-1735423 |work=The Daily Star |date=29 April 2019 |access-date=12 March 2026}}</ref>

* Arindam Natya Sampraday – A Chattogram-based theatre troupe active since the 1970s.<ref>{{cite news |title=Arindam Natya Sampraday celebrates anniversary |url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/lifestyle/arindam-natya-sampraday-celebrates-anniversary |work=The Financial Express |access-date=12 March 2026}}</ref>

* Tirjak Natyadal – A theatre group from Chattogram involved in the regional group theatre movement.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tirjak keeps theatre alive in Chattogram |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/arts-entertainment/theatre/news/tirjak-keeps-theatre-alive-chattogram-1809502 |work=The Daily Star |access-date=12 March 2026}}</ref>

===West Bengal===
* [[Bohurupee]] Kolkata, India
* [[Bratyajon]] West Bengal, India
* [[Indian People's Theatre Association]] (IPTA) and its branches
* [[Nandikar]] Kolkata, India
* [[Chetana (theatre group)|Chetana]] Kolkata, India
* [[Swapnasandhani]] Kolkata, India
* [[Sansriti]] Kolkata, India
* [[Bengal Repertory]]<ref name="8ththeatreolympics">{{Cite web |url=http://8ththeatreolympics.nsd.gov.in/en/play-single.php?ids=174 |title=Katha-Karnabhar Play |website=8th Theatre Olympics |publisher=National School of Drama |access-date=2018-08-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://samarthan.in/ngo/bengal-repertory/ |title=Bengal Repertory {{!}} Samarthan |work=Samarthan |access-date=2018-08-07}}</ref>
* [[Sahil Nandi]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Commons}}
* ''Bengali stage, 1795-1873'', by Brajendra Nath Banerjee. Published by Ranjan Pub. House, 1943.
* ''Bengali theatre'', by Kironmoy Raha. Published by National Book Trust, India, 1978.
* ''The story of the Calcutta theatres, 1753-1980'', by Sushil Kumar Mukherjee. Published by K.P. Bagchi, 1982.
* ''The Bengali Drama: Its Origin and Development'', by P. Guha-Thakurta. Published by Routledge, 2001. {{ISBN|0-415-24504-4}}. [https://books.google.com/books?id=PnIh1m-gHf8C&dq=Bengali+theatre&pg=PP1 Excerpts]

{{Bengali Theatre}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bengali Theatre}}
[[Category:Bengali theatre| ]]
[[Category:Theatre in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Theatre of India]]
[[Category:Theatre in Bangladesh]]

Bengali theatre - Revision history

Stickerlabelingmachine at 10:21, 12 March 2026