India's rich history of theatre and performing arts is backed by poor documenting skills, since the oral tradition laid no emphasis on the recording of individual performances. Unfortunately, in spite of increased awareness on the importance of documentation today, the situation regarding contemporary theatre practices is no better.

Natarang Pratishthan has dedicated itself to acquiring old collections, scripts, photographs and other material of value from all over India, its preservation and treatment.

The Pratishthan has undertaken discourses on interdisciplinary issues, and documented the theatrical processes of Indian and Asian directors and actors in the audio-visual and verbal media.

Lately it has undertaken a major project on compilation and documentation of material on important theatre personalities with a view to facilitate an indepth study and eventual publication.

Significant Documentation Projects

• •Video recording of work process of B. V. Karanth while he was directing Andher Nagari with students of Ninasam, Heggodu.
• •Video documentation of work process of three women directors - Anamaika Haksar, Neelam Mansingh, and Anuradha Kapur.
• •Written documentation of the work process of Satyadev Dubey and Prasanna.
• •Complete video recording (now transcribed) of Poorva – the Asian Women Theatre Festival and Conference.
• •Exhaustive listing of audio, video, written material available in India on theatre directors.

Directors Documented

* Documentation for B.V. Karanth, Habib Tanvir, Satyadev Dubey, Sombhu Mitra and Vijaya Mehta are being updated.

Such listing on theatre personalities and institutions is ongoing and it is planned that monographs will be printed based on the material collected in the process. Books on Satyadev Dubey, Badal Sircar and K. N. Panikkar are being prepared for publication under the documentation project.

Acknowledgments

Institutions

Abhiyan, Doordarshan, National School of Drama, Sri Ram Centre for Art and Culture, Sangeet Natak Akademi, Sansaptak, Umang, Delhi; Ank, Awishkar, Ekjut, National Centre for Performing Arts, Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai; Adivasi Lok Kala Parishad, Bharat Bhawan, Rang Vidushak, and many others.

Individuals

Badal Sircar, K. N. Panikkar, Sudha Shivpuri, Ratan Thiyam, Saonli Mitra, Nadira Babbar, Johra Segal, and many other distinguished contributors to Indian theatre.