The Duchess of Malfi, written by John Webster around 1612–1613, is a quintessential Jacobean tragedy renowned for its dark tone, psychological depth, and intricate exploration of power, corruption, and identity. Set in the court of Malfi in southern Italy, the play centers on the widowed Duchess who secretly marries herContinue Reading
John Webster (c. 1580 – c. 1634) was a significant Jacobean dramatist best known for his dark and complex tragedies. He flourished during the early 17th century, a period marked by political uncertainty and moral anxiety, which deeply influenced his writing. Webster’s most acclaimed plays, The Duchess of Malfi andContinue Reading
The play uses many elements of nacha – a chorus that provides commentary through song, and panthi tunes of the satnami religious sect are incorporated. The play begins with the song: Satyanam! Satyanam! Satyanam! Praise the truth, nothing better, Praise the guru, no one greater, The very first few lines clearly depicts the importance of truthContinue Reading
The character of Charandas Chor is steeped in paradoxes. Here we have an immoral thief who is a man of noble principles and promises; and loved by none other than the queen! He took vows in a joking way and yet he adheres to them in a serious manner. HeContinue Reading
Habib Tanvir (1 September 1923 – 8 June 2009) was a towering figure in modern Indian theatre—an actor, playwright, poet, director, and cultural visionary. Here’s a deep dive into his life and legacy: 🎭 Early Life & Training 🌿 Naya Theatre & Theatrical Innovation 📜 Major Works & Themes 🎶 Music &Continue Reading
Charandas Chor (“Charandas the Thief”) stands as Habib Tanvir’s most celebrated work—a Chhattisgarhi folk-musical reimagining of a Rajasthani folktale by Vijaydan Detha, brought to stage in 1975 with Naya Theatre . 🎭 Plot & Paradox 🎶 Folk Form & Political Satire 👏 Recognition & Controversy 🎬 Adaptations & Legacy 🌟Continue Reading
“Where the Mind is without Fear” Where the mind is without fear and the head is held highWhere knowledge is freeWhere the world has not been broken up into fragmentsBy narrow domestic wallsWhere words come out from the depth of truthWhere tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfectionWhere the clearContinue Reading
Leave this chanting and singing and telling of beads!Whom dost thou worship in this lonely dark corner of a temple with doors all shut?Open thine eyes and see thy God is not before thee! He is there where the tiller is tilling the hard groundand where the pathmaker is breakingContinue Reading
Gaffer in Rabindranath Tagore’s play, The Post office, is a spiritual wanderer – a “fakir” who has shunned the worldly ways of a family life, and lives on public charity. Of all the characters in the play, it is Gaffer who has the complete understanding and sympathy for the young protagonist,Continue Reading
On the surface level Tagore’s play The Post Office represents the eagerness of Amal, a sick child kept confined in a room, to participate in the activity of life around him. But beyond this apparent simplicity lies its profound meaning. It has been read as an allegory of soul seeking what liesContinue Reading
