Tragada Bhavai: a Rural Theater Troupe of Gujarat
odd: label: Local Number
content: HSFA 1986.9.3
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Jhala, Jayasinhji
label: Collection Creator
content: Sandall, Roger
setName: label: See more items in
content: Jayasinhji Jhala and Roger Sandall films of India
physdesc: label: Extent
content: Film reels (60 minutes, color sound)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1982
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Human Studies Film Archives
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Film reels
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Edited film documents a bhavai (rural theater troupe) as it travels throughout the countryside in Gujarat, India. The all male troupe performs various pieces including miracle plays, comic skits, dances and juggling, and romantic dramas set in medieval times for all male audiences from the Koli caste. Shot in 1980-1981, the film captures backstage preparations, negotiations with sponsoring villagers, interviews with actors and the troupe leader, and the performance.