Indian folk theatre is a mixture of song, dance and dialogue. There are many different kinds of Indian folk theatre performances in India, but many of these performances are dying out because of the popularity of Bollywood movies. Indian folk theatre varies from region to region. Each Indian folk theatre performance is a unique reflection of the regional culture, its values, and its peoples. Some forms of Indian folk theatre is still performed today, but only on special occasions in some rural villages in India.

One such theatre performance is the Kattaikkuttu. Also known as Terukkuttu, Kattaikkutu is a form of street theatre in the state of Tamil Nadu. The Kattaikkuttu serves both as entertainment and a way to teach morals through various Indian epics and mythologies. A popular performance is the enactment of the story of the Mahabharata. The actors in the Kattaikkuttu wear bright costumes and can sing, recite verses and even dance!

The Burrakatha is a form of folk theatre commonly seen in the rural areas of Andhra Pradesh. In the Burrakatha, there is usually one main performer and two minor performers. The main performer acts as the narrator of the play. The minor performer on the right of the main performer acts as the comedian of the play. In addition the minor performer on the left side of the main performer acts as the social commentator of the play.

Nautanki is a form of folk theatre that is performed in north India. Nautanki can still be seen in some villages of India. Social messages like the prevention of AIDS, family planning and women’s empowerment are often embedded in Nautanki. In the days of the British colonial era, many Nautanki plays were used to inform the people of the injustices of the British. In a lot of ways, Nautanki plays are a form of moral instruction and entertainment.

Bhavai is a form of folk theatre that is popular in Gujarat. Bhavai plays feature all levels of society; starting from the very bottom of the caste to the very top of the caste system. There is a lot of satire involved, especially when it comes to making fun of the upper castes. The main theme of Bhavai Plays features the suffering of the lower castes. All the characters, including the female ones, are played by male actors.

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