Badal Sircar: Search for a Language of Theatre

Book Details

• Author: Kirti Jain

• Brand: Niyogi Books

• Edition: First Edition

• Binding: Hardcover

• Number of Pages: 460

• Release Date: 15-11-2016

• ISBN: 9789383098965

• Package Dimensions: 9.0 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches

• Languages: English

About the Book

Badal Sircar: A Life in Theatre offers an insightful exploration into the life and works of one of the most significant modern playwrights of post-Independence India. Badal Sircar's extraordinary contribution to Indian theatre redefined its landscape, connecting deeply with the concerns and anxieties of the Indian middle class. His work, filled with humour, wit, and keen social commentary, brought a fresh and vibrant energy to the stage, making a lasting impact on audiences and critics alike.

This book delves into Sircar’s vast and innovative body of work, showcasing the diverse range of his plays across subjects, forms, and styles. Known for his continuous experimentation, Sircar not only redefined dramatic form and language but also revolutionized performance spaces, acting styles, and the dynamic between performer and spectator. He developed his unique theory and practice of theatre, which he coined as the Third Theatre—a synthesis of urban and traditional theatre.

Badal Sircar’s influence extends beyond his plays; he empowered small amateur theatre groups across the country and overseas, creating theatre that was independent of extensive infrastructure and training yet driven by purpose and passion.

Through a collection of memoirs, interviews, essays, dialogues, reviews, and notes by directors, this book offers a multidimensional view of Badal Sircar’s artistic and personal journey. Tracing his relentless creative pursuits over more than six decades, it paints a portrait of a passionate, socially committed, and often solitary figure whose legacy continues to inspire.