Interdisciplinarity: A Traditional Aspect of Indian Theatre

Abstract

After a brief examination of the roots of interdisciplinary elements in classical theatre, the practice of this tradition in selected forms of modern folk and tribal theatre is discussed. The featured example is a prominent folk theatre form belonging to Central India, Pandwāni, which was not widely known even two decades ago, but which, today, has come to the forefront of attention. Increasingly it is attracting performers who work in such metropolises as Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta, and serves to point out the tradition of interdiscplinarity which has long been a major characteristic of Indian theatre.