LESSON - 5

p10245 Radio Plays

This lesson gives you information about radio plays in
Tamil, their history, characteristics, types, their writers,
producers and so on.

Drama as a literary form was originally meant for acting.
Later, plays were written for study. After the advent of
broadcasting, plays meant only for listening were produced.
Radio plays are a simple form of entertainment for both the
educated and the uneducated. They serve to communicate
to the people, Radio plays are broadcast from Delhi, on
national, level, taking a drama of an Indian language to the
people of other regions and languages

Plays for broadcasting were first produced about 70 years
ago. During the Second World War, the BBC began to
broadcast plays for the benefit of people who where
confined to their houses for fear of venturing out. In India,
plays were broadcast about sixty years ago. In the field of
broadcasting, Chennai has been in the forefront.

Initially, short stories were dramatised for broadcasting.
Later, novels were adapted. Then, drama competitions and
festivals were held. This helped the growth of radio plays
considerably.

Radio plays are different from stage and television plays
and those meant for reading. Their main aim is to provide
valuable information, education and entertainment. Music plays
a significant role in radio plays. It is used to bring out the
various moods of the speakers. The most important feature
of radio plays is the voice of the speaker. By means of clear
pronunciation and proper modulation of voice, the speaker
should be able to bring the whole scene of action before the
listeners’ eyes. Like all other plays, radio plays too, have a
beginning, conflict, crisis and denouement. There are
half - hour plays, one - hour plays, and serial plays. Radio
plays are products of team work. Their impact on the
listeners is considerable. They can be a great source of
pleasure and satisfaction, if listeners are able to appreciate
intricate details of their production and broadcasting.
 

This lesson thus teaches you all about broadcasting, the
origin of radio plays, their popularity and so on.

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