Ashish N. Ketkar
If we look at the history of contemporary theatre, we find that many dramatists have made sincere efforts to create an indigenous national theatre and in doing so have created everlasting Indian plays, thus gaining recognition for Indian theatre. This was done by incorporating various…
in Article
Prateeksha Tiwari
Performers are essential to any art form. In Bhavai, they assume even greater significance because of Bhavai’s particular characteristics. Bhavai is not merely a theatre form, it is a social and cultural institution which governs important aspects of its members’ lives. Traditionally,…
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Prateeksha Tiwari
Bhavai is a popular folk theatre form in Gujarat with a 700-year old history. The word Bhavai derives its meaning from a combination of two words—bhav meaning emotion, and vahini meaning carrier—thus it is named as an art form which is a carrier of emotions.
Bhavai’s original aim was…
in Overview
Prateeksha Tiwari
A nomadic tribe of Gujarat, the Bhavaiyya community is known for its ancestral occupation of ‘Bhavai’—a 14th century folk theatre form. With their subtle criticism of social ills combined with devotional elements, it was popular for using humour as a means of social education. With the advent of…
in Module