The next most highly developed theatre in India was that in the Marhatti language which arose mainly in Poona and Bombay. Like the Bengali stage it began mainly under British influence but soon emancipated itself and established a considerable repertoire, which is good literature as well as fair theatre. Beginning with Vishnupath Bhave, who used amorous and tragic themes, a number of experimental plays were written which rationalized the old medieval performance and led to the formation of the professional Bhave company.

They were followed by the Aryoddharaka Company in Poona, the Maharashtra Company and the Shanunagaravasi Company. The repertoire of these ventures was the mixed grill preferred in the early theatres of Bengal. But if it is remembered that Marhatti power was still a dominant feature of Western India till the middle of the nineteenth century, one can see how the Marhatti stage became soon imbued with national self-awareness.

Historical plays about the famous Marhatti heroes from Shivaji downwards began to be written and presented. As these were banned, the Marhatti dramatists invented subtle stratagems to present their point of view in allegorical fantasies or in farcical comedies.

And there was evolved the humorous social play, a specialty of the Marathi stage. Later, under the influence of Ibsen and Shaw, Mama Varerkar wrote social plays in a realistic style where a synthesis between European convention and Indian content was attempted. As a leading contemporary dramatist, Varerkar gave a tremendous lead to the younger groups which have been re-creating the Maharashtra village theatre through the Powada and the Tamasha.

Under the influence of these vital actors a Marhatti worker wrote a play called Dada. He portrayed in this piece the day-to-day life of the Bombay workers, their sufferings, hardships and frustrations with an authenticity born of grim experience and with a humanity characteristic of his class. The audiences were thrilled to see their own everyday lives put before them so clearly and seemed to be deeply moved by the realization that they could alter the conditions of their lives through their own strength.