The Use of Folk-Theatre in Modern Assamese Drama with Special Reference to Plays of Munin Bhuyan

Abstract

Various folk dramatic arts have been giving a dignified position to the traditions of Assamese culture since ancient times. ‘Puppet theatre’, ‘ojapali’, ‘dhuliya bhaoriya’, ‘kushan-gaan’, ‘bharigaan’, ‘mohoho’ dance, ‘thio  naam’, ‘dotara  gaan’, ‘charak  puja’ ‘kherai dance’, marriage songs, bihu song, ‘bagarumba’ etc folk dramatic performances have been giving a charm to Assamese folk arts environment. No doubt that Assamese dramatists are giving  a different direction to Assamese drama with the application of folk environmental arts and elements. It is worth mentioning that though modern Assamese drama was composed in imitation of western drama yet the Assamese dramatists felt the need of indigenous dramatic techniques. They showed a consciousness towards native traditions by the use of indigenous folk arts and drama traditions. Among the playwrights who used folk dramatic arts and elements to compose drama, Munin Bhuyan is also one of them. His two plays ‘jarourowa paraja’ and ‘Hati aru Phandi’ use different indigenous folk dramatic techniques and arts.

Munin Bhuyan’s Hati aru Phandi, where elements of folk drama are used, also applies various song related to mahuts and elephants along with Bihu song, ‘ghosha’, prayers etc. They wonderfully portray Assamese rural environment. In “Jarourowa paraja’ also seen the use sounds of ‘khol’, songs and dance moves in imitation of ‘bhaona’, ‘kushan-gaan’, ‘khuliya-bhaoriya’ etc.

In our next journal, the use of folk dramatic elements in Munin Bhuyan’ play will be discussed in detail.