Gulab Bai: The Queen of Nautanki Theatre by Deepti Priya Mehrotra

by Deepti Priya Mehrotra

Life of a major entertainer, folk theatre in India. Also socialhistory of Indian theater. scholarly, also useful for general public. also important on role of women in popular culture

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Aadil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very touching story about the life and times of the legendary nautanki singer, dancer and company owner Gulab Bai. Sad tale of the hardships and traumatic journey through life for a woman who came up from the village to the centre stage of the village performing art scene and held sway till the very end of her life living it on her own terms and not giving in to the male dominated field of nautanki art as she was the first ever woman to act as a woman unlike the males who would other wise do the female roles too. Very well researched though a bit repetitive in some parts where the same story is told again. Brings to life the scenes from the village and small towns where they usually perform and records the stories of that era before it fades away forever with the advent of films and other crude forms of entertainment that is more common nowadays. Worth reading for the history of nautanki and Gulab Bai's story brought back to life.