Marathi Theatre, Natyasangeet and Cinema
An introduction to Marathi stage and film traditions, from musical drama to modern cinema, with the vocabulary of each.
Marathi has a proud tradition of theatre and film. Following it is one of the best ways to hear the language in use.
Marathi theatre
Marathi stage plays, called नाटक (nāṭak), have a long history and a devoted audience, especially in Mumbai and Pune.
Natyasangeet
नाट्यसंगीत (nāṭyasaṅgīt) is a form of musical theatre that developed in Maharashtra in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. In it, actors sing songs woven into the play, often in classical styles, and the songs are still loved today.
Marathi cinema
Marathi cinema is one of India's oldest film industries. The first Indian feature film, Raja Harishchandra (1913), was made by Dadasaheb Phalke, who worked in Maharashtra. Marathi films later developed their own tradition, from popular entertainment to thoughtful drama.
In recent years, Marathi films such as Sairat (2016) have reached wide audiences.
Vocabulary
| Marathi | Meaning |
|---|---|
| नाटक | play |
| चित्रपट | film |
| सिनेमा | cinema |
| अभिनेता | actor |
| अभिनेत्री | actress |
| दिग्दर्शक | director |
| गाणे | song |
| संगीत | music |
| रंगमंच | stage |
| प्रेक्षक | audience |
Useful sentences
- मला मराठी चित्रपट आवडतात. — I like Marathi films.
- आज नाटकाचा प्रयोग आहे. — There is a play performance today.
- हे गाणे खूप छान आहे. — This song is very nice.
- आम्ही चित्रपट पाहायला जाणार आहोत. — We are going to watch a film.
Learning through the arts
- Listen to songs and read the lyrics.
- Watch films with subtitles, then without.
- Read reviews in Marathi newspapers.
- Use the dictionary for new words.
Tips
- Learn arts vocabulary.
- Listen to Marathi songs.
- Use the dictionary to look up lyrics.
English Marathi Dictionary
Offline English–Marathi dictionary with meanings in proper Devanagari script
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