Tradition Reimagined: The Evolving Reception of Vijay Tendulkar's Plays in Contemporary Indian Theatre

Abstract

Vijay Tendulkar is one of the most outstanding writers of plays in India who has always brought a twist in the traditional values and norms in his plays, thus providing a critical commentary to the socio-political realities of his era. The paper breaks down the reinterpretation of Vijay Tendulkar’s plays in the modern context, with reference to the subversion of traditional narrative and conventions of theatrical production in the contemporary performances. An examination of the major works as Sakharam Binder, Ghashiram Kotwal and Silence! The Court is in Session, the research investigates the approaches that the directors have towards the socio-political themes present in the writing of Tendulkar as well as the challenges directed at them by the directors. These adaptations are relevant to the modern audience, as they include new staging devices and allusions to modern culture, creating different responses to them, which mirror the concerns of the society. The article emphasizes the role of the contemporary performance in challenging the traditional understanding of gender relations and power distribution as well as encouraging the audience to think critically about the intricacies of Tendulkar’s critique of authority and morality. Finally, it is evident in this study that the Tendulkar’s work remains relevant in modern theatre, and it has the potential to become a subject of discussion and raise awareness about burning social and political issues.