Vishnudas Bhave

Vishnudas Bhave (Marathi: विष्णुदास भावे) (d. 9 August 1901), was the leading dramatist of Maharashtra in India and the pioneer of Marathi theatre, as he staged the first Marathi-language play Sita Swayamvar in Sangli 1843. In this venture, Vishnudas Bhave was fully supported by Rajasaheb Chintamanrao Patwardhan. After the success of the play "Sita Swayamvar" Vishnudas Bhave staged plays on episodes of the Ramayana. He traveled a lot with his troupes for the plays. He also ventured into puppet shows. Vishnudas Bhave died on 9 August 1901.

In Maharashtra the theatrical activity began in 1843 with Vishnudas Amrut Bhave's Sanglikar Natak Mandali. This drama company was influenced by the English plays. Vishnudas Bhave was an extremely gifted scholar - playwright, director and able organiser. A drama school was also set up in Sangli. Vishnudas Bhave came to Mumbai in 1853 and in the beginning he staged his "Khel-Akhyan" (play-narrations in verse) and plays in the wada of Shri Vishvanath Shimpi in the Girgaum locality of the city. The stories of his plays were rooted in Sanskrit mythological and religious literature. Songs and music were the strengths of Vishnudas Bhave's dramas. His play "Sita Swayamvar" became very popular and received much encomium. For the most part, Bhave's plays were one-man shows, with other cast playing strictly supporting and secondary roles only when their presence was needed. The tradition of full-fledged drama was revived much later in 1880 by Annasaheb Kirloskar, who is credited more often than Bhave as the pioneer of Marathi theatre.

The Maharaja of Sangli Chintamanrao Appa Saheb Patwardhan gave his partronage and much encouragement to Vishnudas Bhave, who had extended his drama activity from Mumbai to Pune also.

The history of Marathi Theater records that "Bhave produced plays in Marathi with music composed on Karnataki base. His play was much admired by the Governor's Secretary... religious spirit, scientific singing by a sort of chorus in the midst of dialogues by other characters, crude dances and quaint costumes and make-up and certain skillful sword-play were their outstanding qualities. One has to remember that the audience was very devotional in character".

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