India has a long tradition of drama theatre, which has been associated with illustrious Indian dramatists since antiquity. Indian classical drama refers to the tradition of dramatic literature and performances in ancient India. Great Indian dramatists created magnum opuses during ancient times. It will be helpful to the applicants who are taking competitive exams like UPSC-prelims, State Services, State Services, NDA, CDS, and Railways, to know about the famous dramatists of Indian classical theatre.
Here is a list of famous playwrights during the classical period in India
Indian Drama has been a part of Indian culture for as long as it can remember and has been associated with illustrious dramatists since antiquity. India’s ancient dramatic literature is referred to as classical drama. Ancient India produced great dramatists whose works are considered magnum opus. Among the most ancient classical or Sanskrit plays is that of Ashwaghosh’s Saraputra Prakaran.
Indian Classical Dramatists
Seven great playwrights of ancient India were known.
1. Bhas
Svapnavasavadattam is one of Bhas most famous compositions. His other famous works include Pratijna-Yaugandharayan, Charu Duttam, Pancharatral, `Karnabhara’ `Dootvakya’, and Bat Charit, Abibharaki. Prupuk was a prose poem staged by common people during Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Purana ceremonies.
2. Shudrak
He is best known for his earthen vehicle, Mrichakatikam. He distinguishes himself from his predecessors by reflecting life’s struggles in his play. He has a hero, a heroine, and a villain in his play. Charudatta and Basantsena are two Brahmins who fall in love.
3. Vishakhadatta
A famous playwright of the Gupta period, he wrote many plays. Mudrarakshasa and Devichandra Guptam are two of his most famous compositions. He describes the great Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta Maurya in *Mudrarakshasa’, which features the famous Nanda dynasty emperor Dhanananda. *Devichandragupta* mentions the Gupta emperor Chandragupta and his brother Ram Gupta. There is no love, joy, heroine, or comedy in Mudrarakshasa.
4. Kalidas
The most famous plays he wrote were Malvikagnimitram, Vikramorvsaiyam and Abhigyan Shakuntalam, written during the reign of Chandragupta II.
5. Bhavabhutti
His plays were among the most famous of the classical era. There were no great Sanskrit playwrights after Bhavabhuti who wrote plays like Madhav and Malti in India. One of Bhavabhuti’s most famous plays is Uttararamacharita. He has also composed ‘Malti Madhav’, for which tantric rites play a central role, but there is no comedian involved.
6. Harshvardhana
Kannauj was ruled by him. Nagananda, Ratnavali’, and ‘Priyadarshika’ are three of his best-known plays. In Nagananda, he discusses the prohibition of snake sacrifice. ‘Ratnavali’ describes the romance between prince Udayan and his lover Ratnavali, while ‘Priyadarshika’ describes the romance between Udayan and Priyadarshika.
7. Mahendra Varman
His reign was remarkable as a Pallava king. The most famous of his plays is Matavillas Parahasana. In this satire, Kapalika and Pashupata’s peculiar aspects are poked fun at.
India’s theatre history is deeply rooted in the age of the Sanskrit plays, which is long gone. There have been many distinguished Indian dramatists since then, who have incorporated the nine Rasas to form Indian Natya.
Famous Indian Classical Playwrights
India has a long tradition of drama theatre, which has been associated with illustrious Indian dramatists since antiquity. Indian classical drama refers to the tradition of dramatic literature and performances in ancient India. Great Indian dramatists created magnum opuses during ancient times. It will be helpful to the applicants who are taking competitive exams like UPSC-prelims, State Services, State Services, NDA, CDS, and Railways, to know about the famous dramatists of Indian classical theatre.
Here is a list of famous playwrights during the classical period in India
Indian Drama has been a part of Indian culture for as long as it can remember and has been associated with illustrious dramatists since antiquity. India’s ancient dramatic literature is referred to as classical drama. Ancient India produced great dramatists whose works are considered magnum opus. Among the most ancient classical or Sanskrit plays is that of Ashwaghosh’s Saraputra Prakaran.
Indian Classical Dramatists
Seven great playwrights of ancient India were known.
1. Bhas
Svapnavasavadattam is one of Bhas most famous compositions. His other famous works include Pratijna-Yaugandharayan, Charu Duttam, Pancharatral, `Karnabhara’ `Dootvakya’, and Bat Charit, Abibharaki. Prupuk was a prose poem staged by common people during Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Purana ceremonies.
2. Shudrak
He is best known for his earthen vehicle, Mrichakatikam. He distinguishes himself from his predecessors by reflecting life’s struggles in his play. He has a hero, a heroine, and a villain in his play. Charudatta and Basantsena are two Brahmins who fall in love.
3. Vishakhadatta
A famous playwright of the Gupta period, he wrote many plays. Mudrarakshasa and Devichandra Guptam are two of his most famous compositions. He describes the great Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta Maurya in *Mudrarakshasa’, which features the famous Nanda dynasty emperor Dhanananda. *Devichandragupta* mentions the Gupta emperor Chandragupta and his brother Ram Gupta. There is no love, joy, heroine, or comedy in Mudrarakshasa.
4. Kalidas
The most famous plays he wrote were Malvikagnimitram, Vikramorvsaiyam and Abhigyan Shakuntalam, written during the reign of Chandragupta II.
5. Bhavabhutti
His plays were among the most famous of the classical era. There were no great Sanskrit playwrights after Bhavabhuti who wrote plays like Madhav and Malti in India. One of Bhavabhuti’s most famous plays is Uttararamacharita. He has also composed ‘Malti Madhav’, for which tantric rites play a central role, but there is no comedian involved.
6. Harshvardhana
Kannauj was ruled by him. Nagananda, Ratnavali’, and ‘Priyadarshika’ are three of his best-known plays. In Nagananda, he discusses the prohibition of snake sacrifice. ‘Ratnavali’ describes the romance between prince Udayan and his lover Ratnavali, while ‘Priyadarshika’ describes the romance between Udayan and Priyadarshika.
7. Mahendra Varman
His reign was remarkable as a Pallava king. The most famous of his plays is Matavillas Parahasana. In this satire, Kapalika and Pashupata’s peculiar aspects are poked fun at.
India’s theatre history is deeply rooted in the age of the Sanskrit plays, which is long gone. There have been many distinguished Indian dramatists since then, who have incorporated the nine Rasas to form Indian Natya.
