The Samskrita Ranga, Madras, is an organization founded for the promotion of Sanskrit dramatic activities. Its activities include the production of Sanskrit plays on the stage, as well as on the radio, research and publication in the field of Sanskrit Drama, and lectures and expositions relating to Sanskrit and allied theatre forms in India and SouthEast Asia. Although the Ranga as such was founded on 16th November, 1958 on the occasion of the First All India Kālidāsa Festival at Ujjain, it is really a continuation of the work that had been already going on in Madras in the presentation of…

Every Indian classical art form flourishing today derives its theory and practice from the rich source material available in the medium of Sanskrit language. More so for the evolution and development of fine arts and its varied branches in India, this glorious language and its literature have provided the solid base. Modern Indian Drama was for many decades merely a pale copy of Western theatre; but beginning with the establishment of the National School of Drama in 1959 there has been a renaissance of traditional dramatic forms. Especially notable is the revival of Sanskrit Drama and its well-conceived presentation of…

Dr. Raghavan’s interest in fine arts began, as mention earlier, right from his very early age, when he grew up in his maternal uncle’s house in Tiruvarur engaging himself in Bhakti poetry, elevating Bhajana traditions, and enlightening Harikatha expositions. The multi-faceted art of Harikatha had a great impact on young Raghavan. As a student of the The Presidency College, he had opportunities to enact and direct Sanskrit plays. As early as in the 1930s, he wrote film and play scripts and regularly contributed on different topics of interest to well-known Tamil magazines. He was a gifted poet and dramatist and…