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Charandas Chor
- GenresPlays
113 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
16 people are currently reading
390 people want to read
About the author
Habib Tanvir
22 books9 followersHabib Tanvir was one of the most popular Urdu, Hindi playwrights, a theatre director, poet and actor. He is the writer of plays such as Agra Bazar (1954) and Charandas Chor (1975). A pioneer in Urdu, Hindi theatre, he is most known for his work with Chhattisgarhi tribals, at the Naya Theatre, a theatre company he founded in 1959 in Bhopal, and went on to include indigenous performance forms such as nacha, to create not only a new theatrical language, but also milestones such as Charandas Chor, Gaon ka Naam Sasural, Mor Naam Damad and Kamdeo ka Apna Basant Ritu ka Sapna.
For him true "theatre of the people" existed in the villages, which he strived to bring to the urban "educated", employing both folk performers as actors alongside urban actors. He died on 8th of June 2009 at Bhopal after a three week long illness. Upon his death, he was the last of pioneering actor-managers in Indian theatre, which included Sisir Bhaduri, Utpal Dutt and Prithviraj Kapoor, and often he managed plays with mammoth cast, such as Charandas Chor which included an orchestra of 72 people on stage and Agra Bazaar had 52 people.
During his lifetime he won several national and international awards, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1969, Padma Shri in 1983, Kalidas Samman 1990, Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1996, and the Padma Bhushan in 2002; apart from that he had also been nominated to become a member of the Upper House of Indian Parliament, the Rajya Sabha (1972-1978). His play Charandas Chor (Charandas, The Thief) got him the Fringe Firsts Award at Edinburgh International Drama Festival in 1982 [9], and in 2007, it was credited for "an innovative dramaturgy equally impelled by Brecht and folk idioms, Habib Tanvir seduces across language barriers in this his all-time biggest hit about a Robin Hood-style thief" as it was included in the Hindustan Times' list of 'India’s 60 Best works since Independence'.
For him true "theatre of the people" existed in the villages, which he strived to bring to the urban "educated", employing both folk performers as actors alongside urban actors. He died on 8th of June 2009 at Bhopal after a three week long illness. Upon his death, he was the last of pioneering actor-managers in Indian theatre, which included Sisir Bhaduri, Utpal Dutt and Prithviraj Kapoor, and often he managed plays with mammoth cast, such as Charandas Chor which included an orchestra of 72 people on stage and Agra Bazaar had 52 people.
During his lifetime he won several national and international awards, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1969, Padma Shri in 1983, Kalidas Samman 1990, Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1996, and the Padma Bhushan in 2002; apart from that he had also been nominated to become a member of the Upper House of Indian Parliament, the Rajya Sabha (1972-1978). His play Charandas Chor (Charandas, The Thief) got him the Fringe Firsts Award at Edinburgh International Drama Festival in 1982 [9], and in 2007, it was credited for "an innovative dramaturgy equally impelled by Brecht and folk idioms, Habib Tanvir seduces across language barriers in this his all-time biggest hit about a Robin Hood-style thief" as it was included in the Hindustan Times' list of 'India’s 60 Best works since Independence'.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 2, 2018
Such an interesting play. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
July 7, 2016
This play is nothing short of genius. It's hilarious--both the irony as well as the extensive physical comedy in it. This new edition (it's been out of print for some time) includes a terrific introduction that talks about Tanvir's interest in folk theatre that's quite engaging as well as an extensive interview with him. It's a wonderful play that is great for all ages.
February 23, 2014
Amazing !
truly Loved the hawaldar-chor relation and their fights just like tom n jerry and how charandas's funny vows become his destiny.
worth reading !
truly Loved the hawaldar-chor relation and their fights just like tom n jerry and how charandas's funny vows become his destiny.
worth reading !
March 30, 2023
Beginning of Naya Theatre was the opening of the pursuit for a homegrown performance idiom by Tanvir, which is neither based on Western models/methods of performance, nor uncritical romantic emulation of the 'folk'.
He started adapting, directing and scripting plays in English, Hindi and Urdu. He staged European and Sanskrit dráma, classics as well as folk stories, and propagandist poster theatre. In 1970, he revived Agra Bazaar with almost its entire cast from Chhattisgarh.
Tanvir continued experimenting with the form while maintaining the "Artistic and ideological predilection for the plebian". A large contingent of Chhattisgarhi artists became the integral part of Naya Theatre, adding vigorous dance and music to his Hindi-Urdu writing.
Since 1970s to the turn of the century was the most inexhaustible one of his life, professionally. He not only produced a lot of theatre work with Naya Theatre but also created his magnum opus, ‘Charandas Chor’, considered as a modern classic of Indian Theatre.
Charandas Chor sacrifices himself for his commitment to 'Truth' and subsequently embraces death than giving up on his vows. The death of Charandas immortalizes him like Antigone in Sophocles' Antigone and elevates his position as a folk hero or legend and encourages the plebian to engage and retort to the established political forces.
Charandas, though a thief (chor), has a kind heart. He can't rob the abandoned or the unfortunate, but runs rings round policemen, greedy landlords and their strongmen and other such pillars of the establishment.
When his guru demands that he give up his biggest vice, thieving, he offers to make four other pledges instead --- that he will never lead a procession on elephant back, that he will never eat off a golden platter, that he will never marry a queen and that he will never accept the throne of a kingdom.
Unimpressed, his guru makes him swear a fourth vow- never to tell a lie. Charandas does so, and manages to continue thieving effectively without breaking his word.
By a twist of fate, he finds himself in a situation where he is confronted with everything he has renounced, but still will not break his word.
As a final point, his refusal to tell a lie in defiance of a royal command leads to his being put to death.
A classic!! Most recommended
He started adapting, directing and scripting plays in English, Hindi and Urdu. He staged European and Sanskrit dráma, classics as well as folk stories, and propagandist poster theatre. In 1970, he revived Agra Bazaar with almost its entire cast from Chhattisgarh.
Tanvir continued experimenting with the form while maintaining the "Artistic and ideological predilection for the plebian". A large contingent of Chhattisgarhi artists became the integral part of Naya Theatre, adding vigorous dance and music to his Hindi-Urdu writing.
Since 1970s to the turn of the century was the most inexhaustible one of his life, professionally. He not only produced a lot of theatre work with Naya Theatre but also created his magnum opus, ‘Charandas Chor’, considered as a modern classic of Indian Theatre.
Charandas Chor sacrifices himself for his commitment to 'Truth' and subsequently embraces death than giving up on his vows. The death of Charandas immortalizes him like Antigone in Sophocles' Antigone and elevates his position as a folk hero or legend and encourages the plebian to engage and retort to the established political forces.
Charandas, though a thief (chor), has a kind heart. He can't rob the abandoned or the unfortunate, but runs rings round policemen, greedy landlords and their strongmen and other such pillars of the establishment.
When his guru demands that he give up his biggest vice, thieving, he offers to make four other pledges instead --- that he will never lead a procession on elephant back, that he will never eat off a golden platter, that he will never marry a queen and that he will never accept the throne of a kingdom.
Unimpressed, his guru makes him swear a fourth vow- never to tell a lie. Charandas does so, and manages to continue thieving effectively without breaking his word.
By a twist of fate, he finds himself in a situation where he is confronted with everything he has renounced, but still will not break his word.
As a final point, his refusal to tell a lie in defiance of a royal command leads to his being put to death.
A classic!! Most recommended
January 13, 2025
What a prolific writer Habib Tanvir was! This play resides in my heart. Every year I read it and everytime it makes me laugh. It is ironically beautiful. The play of human emotions- guilt, jealousy, friendship, duty, promises, softness and malice everything is packed into a short play of 100 pages. I really don't understand why don't people talk more about it? It is one of those plays that always leave you thinking, nostalgic and wanting for more.
Absolutely delightful!
Absolutely delightful!
March 24, 2017
Funny and sad.
July 24, 2024
A good take
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews