Dr.T.Mahendran
Assistant Professor of English,
Government College of Education,
Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Girish Karnad stands as one of the most influential figures in modern Indian drama, whose plays blend myth, history, folklore, and fantasy to interrogate contemporary social realities. This paper examines how Karnad employs traditional narratives to critique social injustice, patriarchal dominance, caste discrimination, religious orthodoxy, political corruption, and existential dilemmas of modern man. By reinterpreting myths and historical events through modern dramaturgical techniques—often influenced by Western theatre traditions such as Brechtian Epic Theatre—Karnad transforms the past into a powerful lens for understanding the present. The study argues that Karnad’s drama functions as a cultural chronicle of India, offering ethical insights and urging social introspection rather than prescribing simplistic solutions.

Keywords

Girish Karnad, Myth, History, Indian Drama, Tradition, Society, Feminism, Caste, Religion, Existentialism

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