English Language through literature II
3rd and 4th Semester
Unit 3 "Exploring Drama Beyond the land of HattaMala by Badal Sarkar"
Beyond the land of Hattamala is written by Badal Sarkar. Badal Sarkar (1925- 2011) was a playwriter and director. He left a deep imprint on the modern Indian theatre movement.
The subject of his play was anti established in nature. After taking inspiration from Grotowski " poor theatre" who started a Movement in the Indian theatre called the third theatre.
Two kinds of theatre are popular in the European culture world;
1. Institutionalized traditional theatre
2. Avant grade theater.
Sarkar's third theatre: - Two types
1. Folk and rural theatre Jantra
2. Urban proscenium theatre
Sarkar wrote plays for the third theatre which were free from the limitation imposed by traditional theatre. These plays were designed to be performed anywhere and under all conditions because whatever is necessary for stage theatre groups can easily be carried by themselves.
The distance between the stage and the people was eliminated by staging. In a traditional theatre where the stage is lighted the audience sits in Darkness is also absent here. Things that are necessary for play are costume, makeup, lights, sound system, sets, music, scenery separate stage purposes are not going to use in 3rd stage or third theatre.
The plays happen in halls in our courtyard or in this free open space. These three are used in the third theatre only by acting plays happen. On stage actors only do acting and show their expression for the play to become successful.
Sarkar Only wants to bring theatre to the working class, marginalized people otherwise who cannot afford luxury theatre play. People did not come with a cost in the third theatre, and of the performance who want contribution can do so.
Badal Sarkar Play's Images
Question 1. How is Badal Sarkar’s third theatre different from the conventional theatre?
Ans: 1. free of cost
2. the extra effect was not available
3. working or any people can watch Play
4. the theme of the play shows by the acting
5. distance between stage and people was removed.
6. people do not sit in darkness.
Analysis of the play.
The play beyond the land of Hattamala was written by Badal Sarkar for the third theatre. The most complex thing in play was the idea of play. There is a message so powerful, that it undermines and questions the values carefully created and assiduously encouraged within our society.
Plot and basic theme: Two thieves Kenaram and Becharam live in Hattamala. They are being faced by villagers.
For saving our self the jump into a river and people leaves them. The wake up in an unfamiliar land. They are unable to understand that land because there is no concept of money or ownership.
Each citizen is provided cloths food except according to his needs. Handwork as per their interest. There is no concept of labor or of things.
A fruit seller and a doctor stand on the same footing, just as expensive jewelry and books and all other things stand on the same footing All the things which we can use again and again are available for use and returnable basis.
The people in this land have created a truly egalitarian society. This land was free of differences based on wealth, caste, class religious matters.
They are happy because there is no poverty greed crime hungry and unemployment.
And of the play, both Kena and Becha join the land and start living like them. One day Kena and Becha think that they will steal plates from Dhaba and they will sell them for money but after a few times they realize that there is no concept of money so where they will sell plates and who will give them money.
Question 2: explains the plot of the play.
Question 3: How is the new land different from Hattamala?
Character: Many characters in the play but only 10 actors. Two actors fixed role names Kena and Becha. The main character played different roles in the play according to the need. Scene setting: There are no special effects on the stage the scene is created by the actor themselves.
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