Girish Karnad first writes his plays in Kannada and then translates ( rather, transcreates) them into English, and that is why, he is taken to be an Indian English dramatist. His plays have not only translated into English but in some other Indian languages.
He was the recipient of the Jnanpith Award, India's highest literary prize, in 1999 for his contributions to literature and theatre.
Girish Karnad's concern is with the life of the modern man that is very complex and lacks in wholeness. The employment of the old tales is to focus on the absurdity of modern life with all its elemental passions and conflicts.
In 1970, it was enacted in English in Mumbai. Tughlaq, a 13-scene play by Girish Karnad, focuses on the 14th century Turko-Indian ruler. It is both a historical play as well as a commentary on the contemporary politics of the 1960s.
Tughlaq consists of rich and complex symbolism and a subtle weaving of different motifs. There are four main symbols— prayer, sleep, the game of chess and the rose garden or rose. Karnad deftly uses these symbols to convey his point of view on politics and religion, and various other facets of human existence.
His major works include Hayavadana, Yayati, Nagamandala: Play with Cobra, Fire and the Rain, Bali : The Sacrifice, Tale Danda, and Maa Nishada
Hayavadana (meaning: Horse face) is a 1971 Indian Kannada language two-act play written by Girish Karnad. The plot is based on Kathasaritsagara and Thomas Mann's retelling of Transposed Heads.
He wrote his first play Yayati in 1961 when he was a Rhodes Scholar in England. Karnad translated most of his plays himself.
The four different techniques used in the play of Nagamandala by Karnad are i) Myth, ii) Yakshaghana iii) Metamorphosis and iv) Folk drama.
Girish Karnad explored mythology and history with the vision of a modernist, resulting in the creation of great theatrical works.
No comments:
Post a Comment