Resistance in Manjula Padmanabhan's Lights out and Mahesh Dattani's bravely fought the Queen

Abstract

Drama has been playing a major role in human expression since the time immemorial. It provides a large canvas to portray evils of society. The contemporary scholars have chosen drama as medium to express their concerns on social issues through use of plethora of techniques and props such as dialogue, agit-prop, story-telling, narration etc. Indian English Drama, has been received and relished by almost all the sectors of society, who are involved aesthetically and enthusiastically with entertainment, art and awareness. This genre of English Literature has given immense opportunities to one and all to open new horizons for our society to explore and also has swept out the deepest, darkest and ugliest truth out in the sun. Gender and categorization did not play an important role until the playwrights and novelists like Mahashweta Devi, Manjula Padmanabhan, Vijay Tendulkar, Girish Karnad and Asif Currimbhoy initiated to bring the utter purpose of literature into the limelight by writing about the subaltern condition of women and also the price they paid for their liberation. Indian English Drama has played an important role in showcasing the role of women in Indian society. The paper intends to look at the theme of resistance in Manjula Padmanabhan’s Lights Out and Mahesh Dattani’s Bravely Fought the Queen through the lens of a woman. The paper will bring the resistance shown by female characters in the plays. The women have always played a subservient role to man in the patriarchal society. The paper will deal with issues of gang rape, homosexuality and disability.