NEW DELHI: Theatre, which is a big part of Indian tradition, has evolved over the years.
An ancient form of theatre which was once practised to drive home political agendas is today being extensively used to create awareness of social issues in the country.
The growing prominence of street theatre has also caught the fancy of the young.
She moves about with her arms stretched, hair strewn and in ragged clothes.
Delivering her dialogue in a shrill tone, she trails around throwing questions at the surprised audience.
This is not a scene from a Bollywood movie but a snippet of a street play on the status of women in India.
With no stage, arch lights, make-up and minimum props, the medium of street theatre - also known as the people's theatre - has gained wide-spread acceptance and popularity in modern India.
As realistic as it gets, street theatre has become a popular medium to spread awareness about pressing social and political issues in the country.
Dramatist and film-maker, Siddhant Malhotra, said: "I think it is the best possible way to spread awareness, because there is a group of 100 people watching your play.
"You can interact with them, you can engage them right on and they will get your point. By performing a 30-minute play, if you're engaging 100 people at a time, you're changing 100 people at a time which even an advertisement cannot do."
As the name suggests, street plays can be performed anywhere on busy roads, market places or outside offices.
This enables it to reach out to the majority of people for whom theatre is not accessible, like in rural and backward areas.
The shows are not ticketed or pre-scheduled, as the main aim is not to make money but to reach out to as many people as possible.
Often packed with dramatic dialogues, catchy songs and hyperbole, street plays have a telling effect on the masses.
Young dramatists, who often use this medium to generate awareness, feel that a casual approach and lack of a formal atmosphere help them in connecting with the viewers.
Ayushi Kumar, a student and dramatist, said: "Street theatre is one of the art form where actually we are so close to the audiences that we are almost with them. So we can talk, we can connect and to bring that feeling in which they can reflect on themselves. I believe street is the strongest form of theatre for that."
Another student and dramatist, Shiva Sreenivasan, said: "You have a lot of fun when you watch it and when you are having fun you are also getting a message in your head. That is the most important thing. You're just not there and watching it like a niche audience that watches a street play. It's not like that.
"The thing is that we address proper moral issues for the society and for the people of the country. So, it is very easy for us to connect with them, explain our point and get our point through."
Street theatre practitioners hope that the tradition can help to bring about long-term change to Indian society, which despite its progress is reeling under the darkness of social evils like rape, dowry and child marriage.
- CNA/ir
Street theatre catches fancy of India's youth
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Street theatre catches fancy of India's youth
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Street theatre catches fancy of India's youth
