List of traditional Indian theatre
Kutiyattam is the only surviving specimen of the ancient Sanskrit theatre, thought to have originated around the beginning of the Common Era, and is officially recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. In addition, many forms of Indian folk theatre abound.[1] They are listed below.
Theatre | State/Region | Originated | Features | Exponents |
---|---|---|---|---|
Akhyana | Gujarat | Enactment of religious episodes from Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavata by Mana-bhatas | Premanand Bhatt,[2][3] Narsinh Mehta, Acharya Hemachandra | |
Ankia Naat | Assam | Written in an artificial old medieval period poetic Assamese and Maithili mixed language called Brajavali and are primarily centered on Krishna, which usually combine live instruments and singers, dance and elaborate costumes in production | ||
Bayalata | Karnataka | |||
Bhand pather | Kashmir | it consists of unique combinations of dance, drama and acting | ||
Bhaona | Assam | |||
Bhavai | Gujarat | |||
Burrakatha | Andhra Pradesh | |||
Chhau | Jharkhand,West Bengal & Orissa | |||
Dashavatar | Maharashtra and Goa | |||
Harikatha | Southern India | |||
Hela Khayal Dangal | Rajasthan | |||
Jatra | West Bengal | |||
Kalaripayattu | Kerala | |||
Kathakali | Kerala | |||
Marathi Keertan | Maharashtra | |||
Kathakatha | West Bengal | |||
Kudiyattam | Kerala | |||
Maach | Madhya Pradesh | |||
Naqal | Punjab | |||
Manipuri Sankirtana | Manipur | |||
Nautanki | Uttar Pradesh | |||
Odissi | Orissa | |||
Ojapali | Assam | |||
Padayani | Kerala | |||
Pala | Orissa | |||
Pandavani | Madhya Pradesh | |||
Powada | Maharashtra | |||
Raas Leela (Raas Mahotsav) | Assam | |||
Ramlila | Northern India | |||
Raslila | Uttar Pradesh | |||
Rabana Chhaya | Orissa | Shadow puppetry | ||
Swang | Rajasthan | |||
Swang | Uttar Pradesh | |||
Tamasha | Maharashtra | |||
Tang-ta | Manipur | |||
Terukkuttu | Tamil Nadu | |||
Theyyam | Kerala | |||
Tholpavakoothu | Kerala | |||
Tiatr | Goa | |||
Wari-leeba | Manipur | |||
Yakshagana | Karnataka |