Education and Culture - II | Maharashtra State PSC (MPSC): Preparation - MPSC (Maharastra) PDF Download

 Page 1


 
 
148
13 
 
 
 
EDUCATION AND CULTURE - II 
 
b) Development in Theatre and Cinema, Architectural   
    development in Mumbai 
 
Unit Structure : 
 
13.0 Objectives  
13.1 Introduction  
13.2 Theatre 
13.3  Development of Cinema in Mumbai 
13.4  Architectual development in Mumbai  
13.5 Conclusion  
13.6 Questions  
 
13.0 OBJECTIVES 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 Maharashtra has witnessed tremendous progress in the field 
of theatre and Cinema. Maharashtra has a rich legacy of 
performing arts like Tamashya, Gondhal, Lavani and ballad, which 
were staged on various occasions as a means of recreation. 
Mumbai has become the important centre of theatre and film 
industry. Mumbai has produced housands of dramas and films and 
enriched the cultural life of Mumbai. Mumbai has become the 
centre of attraction for all foreigners because of its architectural 
marvels. Mumbai had achieved considerable significance due to its 
architectural monumants and buildings.  
EDUCATION	AND	CULTURE	-	II	
Page 2


 
 
148
13 
 
 
 
EDUCATION AND CULTURE - II 
 
b) Development in Theatre and Cinema, Architectural   
    development in Mumbai 
 
Unit Structure : 
 
13.0 Objectives  
13.1 Introduction  
13.2 Theatre 
13.3  Development of Cinema in Mumbai 
13.4  Architectual development in Mumbai  
13.5 Conclusion  
13.6 Questions  
 
13.0 OBJECTIVES 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 Maharashtra has witnessed tremendous progress in the field 
of theatre and Cinema. Maharashtra has a rich legacy of 
performing arts like Tamashya, Gondhal, Lavani and ballad, which 
were staged on various occasions as a means of recreation. 
Mumbai has become the important centre of theatre and film 
industry. Mumbai has produced housands of dramas and films and 
enriched the cultural life of Mumbai. Mumbai has become the 
centre of attraction for all foreigners because of its architectural 
marvels. Mumbai had achieved considerable significance due to its 
architectural monumants and buildings.  
EDUCATION	AND	CULTURE	-	II	
 
 
 THEATRE 
 
Maharashtra has witnessed tremendous progress in the field 
of theatre. It has produced number of famous dramatists. The 
progress of theatres led to the cultural development of Mumbai. 
Bombay’s theatre industry has evolved from an amateur activity to 
a professional one. At each stage of its development, the peculiar 
nature of this city, its geography, its commerce, its cosmopolitanism 
has acted as the chief influence, making the theatre scene in 
Bombay unique. This theatre has moved through many phases, 
rich ones alternating with poor. Often the richer the theatre was in 
terms of money spent and money earned, the poorer its aesthetic 
quality and social relevance. The rich-poor polarity within Bombay 
theatre in general, may be further reduced to a contrast between 
Marathi theatre and the theatre of other languages like Gujarati, 
English and Hindi.  
 
The English actors began to perform various popular dramas 
in Mumbai on the invitation of their counter parts in Mumbai. This 
led the Vernacular dramatists to translate popular European 
dramas and stage them at various places on various occasions. 
Annasahab Kirloskar was the first person to stage Shakuntal, a 
legendry Marathi drama in 1880 which encouraged the enthusiasts 
to stage various plays one after another and brought into existence 
several drama troupes. 
 
Establishments of Theatres in Mumbai 
The first theater constructed in 1776 at the site of the 
present Elphinstone circle opposite the Town Hall, served as a 
venue for important social and cultural events in the life of the 
English community. Due to the efforts of Jagannath Shankarshet 
and others, the government of Bombay built the Grant Road 
Theatre in February 1846 on a plot donated by Shankarshet. 
Initially, it was meant for English plays alone. Theatre attracted 
Indian audiences and the charges of this theatre were very low. 
After fifty years, the Grant Road theatre was converted into a 
bakery.  
 
By mid- 19
th
 century in the area around Grant Road Theatre, 
other theatres camp up. English touring companies put up plays 
there. Since then the area from Opera House to Belasis Road had 
remained the entertainment district of Mumbai. Today the Grant 
Road area has a large presence of cinema theatres. Incidentally, 
the Opera House built in 1910, has a touch of Greek architectural 
design. Artists were invited to paint its dome and ornate interior. Its 
walls were painted with picture of famous European poets, writers 
and musicians, nearly five lakhs of rupees had been spent on its 
decoration by 1915.  
Page 3


 
 
148
13 
 
 
 
EDUCATION AND CULTURE - II 
 
b) Development in Theatre and Cinema, Architectural   
    development in Mumbai 
 
Unit Structure : 
 
13.0 Objectives  
13.1 Introduction  
13.2 Theatre 
13.3  Development of Cinema in Mumbai 
13.4  Architectual development in Mumbai  
13.5 Conclusion  
13.6 Questions  
 
13.0 OBJECTIVES 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 Maharashtra has witnessed tremendous progress in the field 
of theatre and Cinema. Maharashtra has a rich legacy of 
performing arts like Tamashya, Gondhal, Lavani and ballad, which 
were staged on various occasions as a means of recreation. 
Mumbai has become the important centre of theatre and film 
industry. Mumbai has produced housands of dramas and films and 
enriched the cultural life of Mumbai. Mumbai has become the 
centre of attraction for all foreigners because of its architectural 
marvels. Mumbai had achieved considerable significance due to its 
architectural monumants and buildings.  
EDUCATION	AND	CULTURE	-	II	
 
 
 THEATRE 
 
Maharashtra has witnessed tremendous progress in the field 
of theatre. It has produced number of famous dramatists. The 
progress of theatres led to the cultural development of Mumbai. 
Bombay’s theatre industry has evolved from an amateur activity to 
a professional one. At each stage of its development, the peculiar 
nature of this city, its geography, its commerce, its cosmopolitanism 
has acted as the chief influence, making the theatre scene in 
Bombay unique. This theatre has moved through many phases, 
rich ones alternating with poor. Often the richer the theatre was in 
terms of money spent and money earned, the poorer its aesthetic 
quality and social relevance. The rich-poor polarity within Bombay 
theatre in general, may be further reduced to a contrast between 
Marathi theatre and the theatre of other languages like Gujarati, 
English and Hindi.  
 
The English actors began to perform various popular dramas 
in Mumbai on the invitation of their counter parts in Mumbai. This 
led the Vernacular dramatists to translate popular European 
dramas and stage them at various places on various occasions. 
Annasahab Kirloskar was the first person to stage Shakuntal, a 
legendry Marathi drama in 1880 which encouraged the enthusiasts 
to stage various plays one after another and brought into existence 
several drama troupes. 
 
Establishments of Theatres in Mumbai 
The first theater constructed in 1776 at the site of the 
present Elphinstone circle opposite the Town Hall, served as a 
venue for important social and cultural events in the life of the 
English community. Due to the efforts of Jagannath Shankarshet 
and others, the government of Bombay built the Grant Road 
Theatre in February 1846 on a plot donated by Shankarshet. 
Initially, it was meant for English plays alone. Theatre attracted 
Indian audiences and the charges of this theatre were very low. 
After fifty years, the Grant Road theatre was converted into a 
bakery.  
 
By mid- 19
th
 century in the area around Grant Road Theatre, 
other theatres camp up. English touring companies put up plays 
there. Since then the area from Opera House to Belasis Road had 
remained the entertainment district of Mumbai. Today the Grant 
Road area has a large presence of cinema theatres. Incidentally, 
the Opera House built in 1910, has a touch of Greek architectural 
design. Artists were invited to paint its dome and ornate interior. Its 
walls were painted with picture of famous European poets, writers 
and musicians, nearly five lakhs of rupees had been spent on its 
decoration by 1915.  
 
 
Beginning of Theatre Industry in Mumbai 
 
 Theatre industry was started in many parts of Maharashtra in 
the beginning of 19
th
 Century. However, due to the response of 
Mumbai, theatre industry developed so much, compared to other 
parts of Maharashtra. Maharashtra’s first playwrights, Vishnudas 
Bhave of Sangli arrived in Mumbai in 1853 with his ‘Hindu Nataka 
Mandali’. His dramatic compositions were based on the Puranic 
stories. He was appreciated by Chintamanirao Appesaheb, the 
ruler of Sangli and many others for his excellent plays staged at 
Pune and several other places. After visiting to Mumbai, he held 
performances in the open air and in mandaps in Girgaum. One of 
his plays, performed in February 1853, in the garden of Vishwanth 
Atmaram Shet Shimpi in Girgaum, received such high praise from 
the Press that the soon won the goodwill and friendship of 
Mumbai’s leaders like Bhau Daji Lad, Jagannath Shankarshet and 
Jamshetjee Jijeebhoy.  
 
When they took him to Grant Road Theater, he was so 
pleased with its stage and seating arrangement, curtains and 
scenes that he desired to stage his plays there but found the hiring 
charges of Rs. 500 for the one night, including the lights, beyond 
his means. But Bhau Daji and Shankarshet intervened and secured 
the theatre for the maiden performance of Vishnudas Bhave’s play 
in Mumbai. He had a distinguished audience, including land 
owners, civilian officers and all influential Parsis and Europeans in 
the city. Vishnu Bhave was happy at the positive response and 
appreciation of the Mumbai audience.  
 
The Grant Road Theatre used to attract theatrical groups 
from abroad, though not many of them were of the highest 
standards. The performances of an Italian Opera Company in the 
1860s were appreciated by many Indians staged at Grant Road 
Theatre. In this theatre comedy plays were also staged like Bengali 
Baboo. Many foreigners also visited and staged their plays in 
Mumbai. Dave Carson, a gifted actor, took up topics of interest from 
local situations in Mumbai, especially relating to the Parsis, and 
made the plays humorous and witty. Indian bands played music for 
the stage plays. During this period, Shakespearean plays were 
popular and it was staged at the different theatres in Mumbai.  
 
With the increasing number of Indian audiences patronising 
Grant Road Theatre, the European community decided to have 
another theatre exclusively for the English stage and opened the 
Gaiety Theatre now (the Capital Cinema) on 6
th
 December 1879. 
Later on Novelty Theatre was established with 1,400 persons 
seating capacity. It had the largest stage, measuring 90 feet by 65 
feet. It was very popular theatre of Mumbai. By 1880, there were at 
least four theatres in the Grant Road area where Marathi, Gujarati 
Page 4


 
 
148
13 
 
 
 
EDUCATION AND CULTURE - II 
 
b) Development in Theatre and Cinema, Architectural   
    development in Mumbai 
 
Unit Structure : 
 
13.0 Objectives  
13.1 Introduction  
13.2 Theatre 
13.3  Development of Cinema in Mumbai 
13.4  Architectual development in Mumbai  
13.5 Conclusion  
13.6 Questions  
 
13.0 OBJECTIVES 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 Maharashtra has witnessed tremendous progress in the field 
of theatre and Cinema. Maharashtra has a rich legacy of 
performing arts like Tamashya, Gondhal, Lavani and ballad, which 
were staged on various occasions as a means of recreation. 
Mumbai has become the important centre of theatre and film 
industry. Mumbai has produced housands of dramas and films and 
enriched the cultural life of Mumbai. Mumbai has become the 
centre of attraction for all foreigners because of its architectural 
marvels. Mumbai had achieved considerable significance due to its 
architectural monumants and buildings.  
EDUCATION	AND	CULTURE	-	II	
 
 
 THEATRE 
 
Maharashtra has witnessed tremendous progress in the field 
of theatre. It has produced number of famous dramatists. The 
progress of theatres led to the cultural development of Mumbai. 
Bombay’s theatre industry has evolved from an amateur activity to 
a professional one. At each stage of its development, the peculiar 
nature of this city, its geography, its commerce, its cosmopolitanism 
has acted as the chief influence, making the theatre scene in 
Bombay unique. This theatre has moved through many phases, 
rich ones alternating with poor. Often the richer the theatre was in 
terms of money spent and money earned, the poorer its aesthetic 
quality and social relevance. The rich-poor polarity within Bombay 
theatre in general, may be further reduced to a contrast between 
Marathi theatre and the theatre of other languages like Gujarati, 
English and Hindi.  
 
The English actors began to perform various popular dramas 
in Mumbai on the invitation of their counter parts in Mumbai. This 
led the Vernacular dramatists to translate popular European 
dramas and stage them at various places on various occasions. 
Annasahab Kirloskar was the first person to stage Shakuntal, a 
legendry Marathi drama in 1880 which encouraged the enthusiasts 
to stage various plays one after another and brought into existence 
several drama troupes. 
 
Establishments of Theatres in Mumbai 
The first theater constructed in 1776 at the site of the 
present Elphinstone circle opposite the Town Hall, served as a 
venue for important social and cultural events in the life of the 
English community. Due to the efforts of Jagannath Shankarshet 
and others, the government of Bombay built the Grant Road 
Theatre in February 1846 on a plot donated by Shankarshet. 
Initially, it was meant for English plays alone. Theatre attracted 
Indian audiences and the charges of this theatre were very low. 
After fifty years, the Grant Road theatre was converted into a 
bakery.  
 
By mid- 19
th
 century in the area around Grant Road Theatre, 
other theatres camp up. English touring companies put up plays 
there. Since then the area from Opera House to Belasis Road had 
remained the entertainment district of Mumbai. Today the Grant 
Road area has a large presence of cinema theatres. Incidentally, 
the Opera House built in 1910, has a touch of Greek architectural 
design. Artists were invited to paint its dome and ornate interior. Its 
walls were painted with picture of famous European poets, writers 
and musicians, nearly five lakhs of rupees had been spent on its 
decoration by 1915.  
 
 
Beginning of Theatre Industry in Mumbai 
 
 Theatre industry was started in many parts of Maharashtra in 
the beginning of 19
th
 Century. However, due to the response of 
Mumbai, theatre industry developed so much, compared to other 
parts of Maharashtra. Maharashtra’s first playwrights, Vishnudas 
Bhave of Sangli arrived in Mumbai in 1853 with his ‘Hindu Nataka 
Mandali’. His dramatic compositions were based on the Puranic 
stories. He was appreciated by Chintamanirao Appesaheb, the 
ruler of Sangli and many others for his excellent plays staged at 
Pune and several other places. After visiting to Mumbai, he held 
performances in the open air and in mandaps in Girgaum. One of 
his plays, performed in February 1853, in the garden of Vishwanth 
Atmaram Shet Shimpi in Girgaum, received such high praise from 
the Press that the soon won the goodwill and friendship of 
Mumbai’s leaders like Bhau Daji Lad, Jagannath Shankarshet and 
Jamshetjee Jijeebhoy.  
 
When they took him to Grant Road Theater, he was so 
pleased with its stage and seating arrangement, curtains and 
scenes that he desired to stage his plays there but found the hiring 
charges of Rs. 500 for the one night, including the lights, beyond 
his means. But Bhau Daji and Shankarshet intervened and secured 
the theatre for the maiden performance of Vishnudas Bhave’s play 
in Mumbai. He had a distinguished audience, including land 
owners, civilian officers and all influential Parsis and Europeans in 
the city. Vishnu Bhave was happy at the positive response and 
appreciation of the Mumbai audience.  
 
The Grant Road Theatre used to attract theatrical groups 
from abroad, though not many of them were of the highest 
standards. The performances of an Italian Opera Company in the 
1860s were appreciated by many Indians staged at Grant Road 
Theatre. In this theatre comedy plays were also staged like Bengali 
Baboo. Many foreigners also visited and staged their plays in 
Mumbai. Dave Carson, a gifted actor, took up topics of interest from 
local situations in Mumbai, especially relating to the Parsis, and 
made the plays humorous and witty. Indian bands played music for 
the stage plays. During this period, Shakespearean plays were 
popular and it was staged at the different theatres in Mumbai.  
 
With the increasing number of Indian audiences patronising 
Grant Road Theatre, the European community decided to have 
another theatre exclusively for the English stage and opened the 
Gaiety Theatre now (the Capital Cinema) on 6
th
 December 1879. 
Later on Novelty Theatre was established with 1,400 persons 
seating capacity. It had the largest stage, measuring 90 feet by 65 
feet. It was very popular theatre of Mumbai. By 1880, there were at 
least four theatres in the Grant Road area where Marathi, Gujarati 
 
 
and Hindi plays were staged. In this way, by the end of nineteenth 
century numbers of theatres were founded in Mumbai. This further 
led to the growth of Theatrical industry of Mumbai. 
 
Parsi Theatrical Committee 
 
Following the footsteps of Hindu Nataka Mandali, number of 
Indian theatrical groups sprang up in Mumbai such as the Parsi 
Theatrical Committee consisting of Dadabhai Naouroji and Bhau 
Daji Lad. They produced their first play called Rustum Zabooli and 
Sobrab in October 1853. The Hindu Nataka Mandali and the Parsi 
Theatrical committee staged plays at Grant Road Theatre. Deshi 
Natakshala was built by Dahyabhai Dholsaji, founder of Deshi 
Natak Samaj. The company staged its plays until recently at 
Princes Theatre at Bahangwadi, built in 1905 by Tribhuwandas 
Mangaldas Nathubhai. The Parsi students of Elphinstone College 
started the Elphinstone Dramatic Club and Hirjee A. Khambata of 
the Club was such a gifted actor that his performances of 
Shakespearean plays were astounding. The Parsis also developed 
Gujarati theatre during this period. A Parsi actor called ‘Dady Christ’ 
enthralled the Parsi and Gujarati audiences. Thus, Parsis in 
Mumbai had taken strenuous efforts to develop theatre industry of 
Mumbai. 
 
Prominent Nataka Mandalis 
 
Among them Kirloskar Natak Mandali, Gandharva Natak 
Mandali, Aryodharak and Maharashtra Natak Mandali were very 
popular trouper or mandalis during that time. After the Kirloskar 
Natya Mandali in which Bal Gandharva worked variously, he 
founded his own mandali which came to be known as the Bal 
Gandharva Natya Mandali. In 1880, Shankarrao Patkar and Deval 
founded Aryodharak Natak Mandali and in 1904, came up one 
more natya mandalis was the popular Maharashtra Natak Mandali. 
Among the popular role casts were Narayanrao Rajahansa known 
as Bal Gandharva, Ganpatrao Joshi, Ganpatrao Bhagvat, 
Ganpatrao Bodas, Nanasaheb Patak, Dinkar Kamanna and 
Keshvrao Date who dominated the stage during the border 
decades of 19 & 20 centuries. Bal Gandharva used to cast female 
role in which he became a trend setter for females in the world of 
fashion. Ganpatrao Joshi became very much popular for staging 
Hamlet where as Ganpatrao Bhagwat began to know popularly as 
Keechak due to his role cast in the drama. There was one more 
outstanding development in drama was the Natya Sangeet, which 
popularized by Keshavrao Bhosale, Bal Gandharva, Master 
Krishnarao and Dinannath Mangeshkar. These were the 
personalities who not only sung, experimented and staged this 
music but also enriched all techniques, accessories of drama, 
music and led the Marathi theatre to the top position in the country.  
Page 5


 
 
148
13 
 
 
 
EDUCATION AND CULTURE - II 
 
b) Development in Theatre and Cinema, Architectural   
    development in Mumbai 
 
Unit Structure : 
 
13.0 Objectives  
13.1 Introduction  
13.2 Theatre 
13.3  Development of Cinema in Mumbai 
13.4  Architectual development in Mumbai  
13.5 Conclusion  
13.6 Questions  
 
13.0 OBJECTIVES 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 Maharashtra has witnessed tremendous progress in the field 
of theatre and Cinema. Maharashtra has a rich legacy of 
performing arts like Tamashya, Gondhal, Lavani and ballad, which 
were staged on various occasions as a means of recreation. 
Mumbai has become the important centre of theatre and film 
industry. Mumbai has produced housands of dramas and films and 
enriched the cultural life of Mumbai. Mumbai has become the 
centre of attraction for all foreigners because of its architectural 
marvels. Mumbai had achieved considerable significance due to its 
architectural monumants and buildings.  
EDUCATION	AND	CULTURE	-	II	
 
 
 THEATRE 
 
Maharashtra has witnessed tremendous progress in the field 
of theatre. It has produced number of famous dramatists. The 
progress of theatres led to the cultural development of Mumbai. 
Bombay’s theatre industry has evolved from an amateur activity to 
a professional one. At each stage of its development, the peculiar 
nature of this city, its geography, its commerce, its cosmopolitanism 
has acted as the chief influence, making the theatre scene in 
Bombay unique. This theatre has moved through many phases, 
rich ones alternating with poor. Often the richer the theatre was in 
terms of money spent and money earned, the poorer its aesthetic 
quality and social relevance. The rich-poor polarity within Bombay 
theatre in general, may be further reduced to a contrast between 
Marathi theatre and the theatre of other languages like Gujarati, 
English and Hindi.  
 
The English actors began to perform various popular dramas 
in Mumbai on the invitation of their counter parts in Mumbai. This 
led the Vernacular dramatists to translate popular European 
dramas and stage them at various places on various occasions. 
Annasahab Kirloskar was the first person to stage Shakuntal, a 
legendry Marathi drama in 1880 which encouraged the enthusiasts 
to stage various plays one after another and brought into existence 
several drama troupes. 
 
Establishments of Theatres in Mumbai 
The first theater constructed in 1776 at the site of the 
present Elphinstone circle opposite the Town Hall, served as a 
venue for important social and cultural events in the life of the 
English community. Due to the efforts of Jagannath Shankarshet 
and others, the government of Bombay built the Grant Road 
Theatre in February 1846 on a plot donated by Shankarshet. 
Initially, it was meant for English plays alone. Theatre attracted 
Indian audiences and the charges of this theatre were very low. 
After fifty years, the Grant Road theatre was converted into a 
bakery.  
 
By mid- 19
th
 century in the area around Grant Road Theatre, 
other theatres camp up. English touring companies put up plays 
there. Since then the area from Opera House to Belasis Road had 
remained the entertainment district of Mumbai. Today the Grant 
Road area has a large presence of cinema theatres. Incidentally, 
the Opera House built in 1910, has a touch of Greek architectural 
design. Artists were invited to paint its dome and ornate interior. Its 
walls were painted with picture of famous European poets, writers 
and musicians, nearly five lakhs of rupees had been spent on its 
decoration by 1915.  
 
 
Beginning of Theatre Industry in Mumbai 
 
 Theatre industry was started in many parts of Maharashtra in 
the beginning of 19
th
 Century. However, due to the response of 
Mumbai, theatre industry developed so much, compared to other 
parts of Maharashtra. Maharashtra’s first playwrights, Vishnudas 
Bhave of Sangli arrived in Mumbai in 1853 with his ‘Hindu Nataka 
Mandali’. His dramatic compositions were based on the Puranic 
stories. He was appreciated by Chintamanirao Appesaheb, the 
ruler of Sangli and many others for his excellent plays staged at 
Pune and several other places. After visiting to Mumbai, he held 
performances in the open air and in mandaps in Girgaum. One of 
his plays, performed in February 1853, in the garden of Vishwanth 
Atmaram Shet Shimpi in Girgaum, received such high praise from 
the Press that the soon won the goodwill and friendship of 
Mumbai’s leaders like Bhau Daji Lad, Jagannath Shankarshet and 
Jamshetjee Jijeebhoy.  
 
When they took him to Grant Road Theater, he was so 
pleased with its stage and seating arrangement, curtains and 
scenes that he desired to stage his plays there but found the hiring 
charges of Rs. 500 for the one night, including the lights, beyond 
his means. But Bhau Daji and Shankarshet intervened and secured 
the theatre for the maiden performance of Vishnudas Bhave’s play 
in Mumbai. He had a distinguished audience, including land 
owners, civilian officers and all influential Parsis and Europeans in 
the city. Vishnu Bhave was happy at the positive response and 
appreciation of the Mumbai audience.  
 
The Grant Road Theatre used to attract theatrical groups 
from abroad, though not many of them were of the highest 
standards. The performances of an Italian Opera Company in the 
1860s were appreciated by many Indians staged at Grant Road 
Theatre. In this theatre comedy plays were also staged like Bengali 
Baboo. Many foreigners also visited and staged their plays in 
Mumbai. Dave Carson, a gifted actor, took up topics of interest from 
local situations in Mumbai, especially relating to the Parsis, and 
made the plays humorous and witty. Indian bands played music for 
the stage plays. During this period, Shakespearean plays were 
popular and it was staged at the different theatres in Mumbai.  
 
With the increasing number of Indian audiences patronising 
Grant Road Theatre, the European community decided to have 
another theatre exclusively for the English stage and opened the 
Gaiety Theatre now (the Capital Cinema) on 6
th
 December 1879. 
Later on Novelty Theatre was established with 1,400 persons 
seating capacity. It had the largest stage, measuring 90 feet by 65 
feet. It was very popular theatre of Mumbai. By 1880, there were at 
least four theatres in the Grant Road area where Marathi, Gujarati 
 
 
and Hindi plays were staged. In this way, by the end of nineteenth 
century numbers of theatres were founded in Mumbai. This further 
led to the growth of Theatrical industry of Mumbai. 
 
Parsi Theatrical Committee 
 
Following the footsteps of Hindu Nataka Mandali, number of 
Indian theatrical groups sprang up in Mumbai such as the Parsi 
Theatrical Committee consisting of Dadabhai Naouroji and Bhau 
Daji Lad. They produced their first play called Rustum Zabooli and 
Sobrab in October 1853. The Hindu Nataka Mandali and the Parsi 
Theatrical committee staged plays at Grant Road Theatre. Deshi 
Natakshala was built by Dahyabhai Dholsaji, founder of Deshi 
Natak Samaj. The company staged its plays until recently at 
Princes Theatre at Bahangwadi, built in 1905 by Tribhuwandas 
Mangaldas Nathubhai. The Parsi students of Elphinstone College 
started the Elphinstone Dramatic Club and Hirjee A. Khambata of 
the Club was such a gifted actor that his performances of 
Shakespearean plays were astounding. The Parsis also developed 
Gujarati theatre during this period. A Parsi actor called ‘Dady Christ’ 
enthralled the Parsi and Gujarati audiences. Thus, Parsis in 
Mumbai had taken strenuous efforts to develop theatre industry of 
Mumbai. 
 
Prominent Nataka Mandalis 
 
Among them Kirloskar Natak Mandali, Gandharva Natak 
Mandali, Aryodharak and Maharashtra Natak Mandali were very 
popular trouper or mandalis during that time. After the Kirloskar 
Natya Mandali in which Bal Gandharva worked variously, he 
founded his own mandali which came to be known as the Bal 
Gandharva Natya Mandali. In 1880, Shankarrao Patkar and Deval 
founded Aryodharak Natak Mandali and in 1904, came up one 
more natya mandalis was the popular Maharashtra Natak Mandali. 
Among the popular role casts were Narayanrao Rajahansa known 
as Bal Gandharva, Ganpatrao Joshi, Ganpatrao Bhagvat, 
Ganpatrao Bodas, Nanasaheb Patak, Dinkar Kamanna and 
Keshvrao Date who dominated the stage during the border 
decades of 19 & 20 centuries. Bal Gandharva used to cast female 
role in which he became a trend setter for females in the world of 
fashion. Ganpatrao Joshi became very much popular for staging 
Hamlet where as Ganpatrao Bhagwat began to know popularly as 
Keechak due to his role cast in the drama. There was one more 
outstanding development in drama was the Natya Sangeet, which 
popularized by Keshavrao Bhosale, Bal Gandharva, Master 
Krishnarao and Dinannath Mangeshkar. These were the 
personalities who not only sung, experimented and staged this 
music but also enriched all techniques, accessories of drama, 
music and led the Marathi theatre to the top position in the country.  
 
 
Natak Uttejak Mandali 
 
K.N. Kabraji, an outstanding playwright put Gujarati drama 
on a sound footing with the plays written in the 1870s. In 1875, 
Kabraji, after retiring from the Victoria Theatre Mandali, formed his 
own Natak Uttejak Mandali, rented the hall of the Framjee 
Cowasjee Institute, situated opposite Metro Cinema, and staged 
Harischandra, a play written by Ranchodbhai Udairam. It had 1100 
performances, the longest duration ever. Its success possibly must 
have inspired Dada Saheb Phalke to choose the subject for his first 
film. The success of Raja Harischandra marked the arrival of the 
age of cinema in Mumbai, leading to the conversion of drama 
theatres into cinema houses by 1942. After the invention of films, 
the traditional form of theatre loses its importance and the people of 
Mumbai attracted towards the newly emerging film industry. 
However, theatre industry continued in other parts of Maharashtra. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DEVELOPMENT OF CINEMA IN MUMBAI 
 
Mumbai is the centre of India’s film industry, and today it is 
the world’s largest film producing centre. The film industry in India 
marked the beginning from Mumbai.It was Mumbai’s Dadasaheb 
Phalke, the father of Indian films industry, who created the first 
cinema In India. Now it is known as Bollywood. 
  
A sociological change took place with the advent of cinema 
houses in and around Mumbai. Like the railway stations and unlike 
the opera houses, cinema halls were the first spaces that could be 
shared by various strata of society on an equal footing. Mass 
culture grew with films. Perhaps Walter Benjamin was right when 
he said that ‘cinema heralded political democracy.’ Indian film 
industry developed due to Mumbai’s cinema and the efforts of 
Mumbaikar. It was responsible for the cultural development of 
Maharashtra which further enriched the Indian culture. 
 
The city of Bombay has a fairly long cinema history. Initially 
the theatre industry dominated the cultural life of Mumbai. And once