THE FIRST PUBLIC THEATRE IN BEHGAL

Bengali’s first public theatre was National Theatre. The members of Baghbazar Ameture Theatre established this theatre. The theatre opened on 7 december 1872, at Madhusudan Sanyal’s house. The opening play was Dinabandhu Mitra’s NILDARPAN. In this theatre , enybody got a chance to see the productions to buy tickets. Prices of tickets announced were: first class Rs. 1/- and second class Annas eight. Girish Chandra Ghosh was not ready to call National Theatre without its sufficient properties. Because of poorly conditions, it would not be grand name as the NATIOAL THEATRE – he raised an objection. He went away to reject the group for this issue. The rest of the members like Nagendranath Banerjee and Ardhendu Shekhar let continued ticket selling’s proposal to use the grand name. Cirtainly Girish Chandra came back again in 1873 as honorary artiste. On 8 March 1873 NATIONAL THEATRE closed for reason of strained relation within members. Immediately afterwards the NATIONAL THEATRE divided into two factions : one group consisting of Girish Chandra, Dharmadas Sur, Mahendralal Basu, Matilal Sur, Gopal Chandra das , Shib Chandra Bhattyacharya and other consisting of Nagendranath Bandhyopadhyay, Ardhendu Shekhar Musthafi, Amritalal Basu. Girish Chandra’s group managed to take stage and sceneries. He registered his group as the NATIONAL THEATRE. And other group called itself HINDU NATIONAL THEATRE.
Undivided NATIONAL THEATRE staged most of Dinabandhu’s plays like NILDARPAN(07-12-1872), JAMAI BARIK(14-12-72), SADHABAR EKADASHI(28-12-72), NABIN TAPASWINI(04-01-73), LEELABATI(11-01-73), BIYA PAGLA BUDO(15-01-73). Other plays were : Ramnarayan’s NABA NATAK(25-01-73), Shisir kumar Ghosh’s NAISO RUPEA(08-02-73), Kiran Chandra Banerjee’s BHARAT MATA(15-02-73), BHARAT RAJLAKSHIMI(16-02-73), Michael’s KRISHNA KUMARI(22-02-73). Besides these, here started first MANTOMIME presentations. And Ardhendu Shekhar was an expart in this form. These were: KUBJAN KUGHATAN, NABA VIDYALAYA, MUSTAFI SUHEBER TAMASA , PARISTHAN(15-01-73) and BILATEE BABOO, SUBSCRIPTION BOOK, GREEN ROOM OF A PRIVATE THEATRE, MODERN SHOOL, MUSTAFI SAHEBER PUCKA TAMASA.

NATIONAL THEATRE(1873)
This theatre staged Dinabandhu’s NEELDARPAN on 29 March 1873 in aid of the Native Hospital. Mentionable that it was the first charity show in Bengali Theatre. Also mentionable this theatre staged first Bankim Chandra chatterjee’s MRINALINI(Bankim’s novel dramatized) on 12 February 1874.

HINDU NATIONAL THEATRE(1873)
This group moved to the Opera House. Its first opening show was on 5th April 1874.The play were SARMISTHA and pantomimes.
After two groups went to an tour districts and other places. Returning to Kolkata two groups observed their first anniversary on 7 Decmber 1873. Now HINDU NATIONAL THEATRE called itself the GREAT NATIONAL THEATRE. NATIONAL THEATRE staged Haralal Roy’s HEMLATA ON 13-DECEMBER 1873 At Madhusudan Sanyal’s house.