A Critical Study Of Mahesh Dattani S Plays

PrefaceIntroduction 1. On a Muggy night in Mumbai 2. Seven Steps Around the fire 3. Bravely fought the Queen 4. Final Solutions 5. Dance like a Man 6. Tara 7. Where there's a Will 8. Do the Needful 9. Dattani as a dramatist Index.

Mahesh Dattani, b. 1958, Indian English playwright.

The present volume Mahesh Dattani's Plays: A New Horizon in Indian Theatre, is an humble but sincere effort to fill the dearth of comprehensive critical studies in the realm of Indian English Drama. The light of the genius of Dattani amid the glittering genius of Tagore, Aurobindo, Tendulkar and Karnad, has been acknowledged for the profundity of thought and exceptional literary acumen. However, critics are still indifferent to the immensity of Dattani's use of unconventional theatrical skills and his radical vision to represent challenging issues in Indian Theatre. The present volume presents a comprehensive analysis of the major plays of Dattani including his Radio plays and Screen plays. The analysis is focused on socio-psychological and socio-philosophical dimensions of the major issues integrated in the different texts of the plays. The effort has been made to evaluate the synthesis of the richness of thought and dexterity of technique in the context of contemporary Indian theatrical practices. It will help to open new possibilities in the realm of Indian drama and it will also be a milestone to give an insight in the vision and the theatrical art of Dattani.

Mahesh Dattani, b. 1958, Indian English playwright.

The book undertakes the study of social realism in the plays of Mahesh Dattani. The social issues which Dattani has taken into consideration have been examined critically. The aspects examined have contemporary relevance and the playwright’s aim is to make audience aware about these issues. The selected plays for this book are: Where There’s a Will (1988), Dance Like a Man (1989), Tara (1990), Bravely Fought the Queen (1991), Final Solutions (1993), Do the Needful (1997), On a Muggy Night in Mumbai (1998), Seven Steps Around the Fire (1999) and Thirty Days in September (2001). The entire book is about depiction of contemporary social reality in the plays of Mahesh Dattani and the way we look at those realities and the need to change our outlook for the better of society. The issues that are discussed through these plays are religious harmony, gender equality, sexual abuse of children and glbt issues. There is focus on the concepts like realism, social realism and socialist realism. The book also describes social realism in Indian English drama. The author has tried to show how social realism has become one of the emerging trends in Indian English drama. The detailed historical account of some playwrights writing in the mode of social realism has been focused upon.

Mahesh Dattani, b. 1958, an Indian English playwright.