Cultural Canvas of Karnad: Staging India

This book, "Cultural Canvas of Karnad: Staging India," embarks on a journey to explore this very artistic endeavour. It delves into the intricate ways in which Karnad’s dramatic works engage with and interpret the diverse threads that constitute India’s cultural fabric. From the echoes of ancient myths in Yayati and Nagamandala to the sharp critiques of social and political realities in Tughlaq and Hayavadana, Karnad’s oeuvre offers a panoramic view of a nation grappling with tradition and modernity, power and vulnerability, faith and reason.

Within these pages, we will examine how Karnad masterfully employs theatrical conventions – folklore, music, ritual, and innovative stagecraft – to bring forth nuanced perspectives on caste, gender, religious harmony and conflict, and the ever-evolving identity of India. We will trace the intertextual dialogues his plays engage in with classical Sanskrit drama, regional performance traditions, and contemporary socio-political discourse, revealing the depth and complexity of his artistic vision.