Dramaturgy by Fatih Amirkhan: a path to revival
- Authors
-
-
Alfat Magsumzyanovich Zakirzyanov
Института языка, литературы и искусства имени Г. Ибрагимова Академии наук Республики Татарстан
Author
-
- Keywords:
- Tatar drama, Fatikh Amirkhan, issues, new type, conflict, evolution, poetics
- Abstract
-
At the beginning of the 20th century, Tatar drama emerged as an independent literary genre and embarked on a path of serious exploration. During this period, a group of playwrights entered the realm of stage literature, and their works, which became part of the broader literary process, played a crucial role in the renewal of Tatar society. The purpose of this study is to identify the ideological and aesthetic features of Fatikh Amirkhan’s dramas “Yeshler” (“Youth”, 1909) and “Tigezsezler” (“The Un- equal”, 1915) in the context of the literary era and to assess the writer’s contribution to the development of the early 20th-century Tatar drama. The focus of the research is the thematic issues of the works, the distinctive nature of the conflict, the character system, and the specific features of the author’s artistic thinking. As a result of the study, it was found that F. Amirkhan, drawing on the existing experience of creating dramatic works in Tatar and Russian literature, introduced a novelty into this genre, which is expressed in the playwright’s addressing of current issues, taking into ac- count the influence of the socio-cultural conditions of that time, and introducing new types of characters to the Tatar stage. To reveal the inner conflict and worldview of these characters, the author uses psychological and intertextual techniques. The writer believes that the emerging national bourgeoisie has the potential to transform Tatar society for the better. As a result, the plays feature characters from this social class in the foreground. The works, which are based on an ideological struggle, engage in a serious discussion between different generations about education, career develop- ment, the future of the nation, and the revival of society, among other topics. The author addresses such issues as the fate of women, marriage, family, and love, which parked heated debates in Tatar society of that time. In the play “Youth,” these issues are primarily revealed through everyday conflicts, while in the drama “The Unequal” these problems are inextricably linked to such social issues as a person’s professional selfdetermination, their right to freedom of choice, responsibility for their own fate, and the involvement of women in public life. As a result, F. Amirkhan’s dramatic works contributed to the renewal of Tatar stage literature during this period.
- Author Biography
- References
-
Amineva V.R. Fatih Amirhan i russkaya literatura: tipologicheskie paralleli [Fatih Amirkhan and Russian Literature: Typological Parallels]. Nauchnyj Tatarstan. 2011 (1): 154–164. (In Russ.)
Ahmadullin A.G. Tatarskaya dramaturgiya: istoriya i problemy [Tatar Drama: History and Challenges]. Kazan’: Tatar. kn. Izd-vo, 2012. 511 p. (In Russ.)
Ahmetova D. «Chehovskij» geroj [The “Chekhov” hero] // Kazan: 2021(4): 17 –21. (In Russ.)
Ahmadullin A.G. F. Amirhannyng dramaturgik mirasy [The dramatic legacy of F Amirkhana]. In: Doreslekke ireshu yulynda [On the path to truth]. Kazan: Tatar. kit. nashr.; 1993. P. 191–196. (In Tatar)
Bikkolov I. Tatarcha teatr [Theater in Tatar]. In: Amirhanov M.-F. M.-Z. Eserler: 6 tomda, 3 t.: Roman. Drama eserlere / [toz., tekst., isk. һem angl. əzerl.: A.H. Alieva, G.M. Hannanova] [Works: in 6 vol.; vol. 3: Novel. Dramatic works / comp., text., refs. and notes prepared by: A.H. Aliyeva, G.M. Khannanova]. Kazan: Tatar. kit. nashr.; 2024. P. 336–339. (In Tatar)
Ganieva R.K. Fatih Amirhan. In: Tatar edebiyaty tarihy: sigez tomda: 4 t.: ХХ joz bashy / [fenni moh. R.K. Ganieva, D.F. Zaһidullina]. Yangart. һem tulyl. 2 nche basma [The history of Tatar literature: in eight volumes: vol. 4: The beginning of the 20th century / Sci. ed. R.K. Ganieva, D.F. Zagidullina. Upd. and exp. 2nd edition]. Kazan: Tatar. kit. nashr.; 2023. P. 99–116. (In Tatar)
Zaһidullina D.F., Yusupova N.M. ХХ gasyr tatar edebiyaty tarihy: dereslek. 1 nche kitap: ХХ jozneң berenche yartysynda tatar edebiyaty [The history of Tatar literature of the twentieth century: textbook. Book 1: Tatar literature of the first half of the 20th century]. Kazan: Kazan universtety, 2011. 230 p. (In Tatar)
Ibragimov M.I., Zagidullina D.F. Tatarskaya literatura nachala XX veka skvoz’ prizmu teorii G.D. Gacheva ob uskorennom razvitii literatur [Tatar literature of the early 20th century viewed through the lens of G.D. Gachev’s theory on the accelerated development of literatures] // Novye issledovaniya Tuvy. 2024 (4): 127–137 (In Russ.) Idejno-ehsteticheskoe nasledie Fatiha Amirhana. Mezhvuz. sb. nauch. tr. / Kazan. gos. ped. in-t; [Otv. red. Hatipov F.M. [The Ideological and Aesthetic Heritage of Fatikh Amirkhan. Interuniversity Collection of Scientific Papers / Kazan State Pedagogical Institute; Khatipov F.M., ed.]. Kazan’: KGPI, 1989 (1990). 204 p. (In
Russ.)
Kamal G. Yanga eserler [New works]. In: Amirhanov M.-F. M.-Z. Eserler: 6 tomda, 3 t.: Roman. Drama eserlere / [toz., tekst., isk. һem ahgl. ezerl.: A.H. Alieva, G.M. Hannanova] [Works: in 6 vol.; vol. 3: Novel. Dramatic works / comp., text., refs. and notes prepared by: A.H. Aliyeva, G.M. Khannanova]. Kazan: Tatar. kit. nashr.; 2024. P. 329–330. (In Tatar)
Karam G. Tatarcha teatr. In: Əmirhanov M.-F. M.-Z. Əsərlər: 6 tomda, 3 t.: Roman. Drama əsərləre / [tөz., tekst., isk. һəm aңl. əzerl.: Ə.H. Alieva, G.M. Hannanova] [Works: in 6 volumes, in 3 volumes: Novel. Dramatic works / comp., text., refs. and notes prepared by: A.H. Aliyeva, G.M. Khannanova]. Kazan: Tatar. kit. nəshr.; 2024. P. 331–335. (In Tatar)
Karam G. «Tigezsezler» (Teatr ve muzyka) [“Unequal” (Theater and music)]. In: Əmirhanov M.-F. M.-Z. Eserler: 6 tomda, 3 t.: Roman. Drama eserlere / [toz., tekst., isk. һem ahgl. ezerl.: A.H. Alieva, G.M. Hannanova] [Works: in 6 vol., vol. 3: Novel. Dramatic works / comp., text., refs. and notes prepared by: A.H. Aliyeva, G.M. Khannanova]. Kazan: Tatar. kit. nashr.; 2024. P. 342–349. (In Tatar)
Magdeev M.S. Fatih Amirhan (Kratkij ocherk o zhizni i tvorchestve pisatelya). [Fatih Amirkhan (A brief essay on the writer’s life and work)]. Kazan’: Tatar. kn. izd- vo, 1986. 86 p. (In Russ.)
Muhametshin R.M. Dzhadidizm [Jadidism]. In: Tatarskaya ehnciklopediya: V 6 t. / Gl. red. A.M. Mazgarov, otvet. red. G.S. Sabirzyanov [Tatar Encyclopedia: In 5 vol., vol. 2: G–J. / M.Kh. Khasanov, G.S. Sabirzyanov, eds.]. Kazan: Institut Tatarskoj ehnciklopedii AN RT, 2005. P. 269–270. (In Russ.)
Nigmatullina Yu.G. Nacional’noe svoeobrazie ehsteticheskogo ideala [The National Identity of the Aesthetic Ideal]. Kazan’: Izd-vo Kazan. un-ta, 1970. 215 p. (In Russ.)
Nurullin I.Z. Put’ k zrelosti (o zarozhdenii i razvitii kriticheskogo realizma v tatarskoj literature) [The Path to Maturity (On the Emergence and Development of Critical Realism in Tatar Literature)]. Kazan: Tatar. kn. izd-vo, 1971. 349 p. (In Russ.) Sagdi G. Tatar teatr edebiyaty һem anyng usu tarihy [Tatar theatrical literature and the history of its development]. In: Tatar teatry (1906–1926). Tulylandyrylgan 2 nche basma [Tatar Theatre (1906–1926). Exp. 2nd edition]. Kazan: Magarif, 2003.
P. 18–74. (In Tatar)
Sagdi G. Tatar edebiyaty tarihy [The history of Tatar literature]. In: Gabdrahman Sagdi: fenni-biografik jyentyk. Tozүcheler D. Zaһidullina, Ch. Gyjlazheva [AbdrakhmanSagdi: a scientific and biographical collection. Direct.: D. Zagidullina, Ch. Gilyazova]. Kazan: Jyen, 2008. P. 52–189. (In Tatar)
Tatarskaya ehnciklopediya: V 6 t. / Gl. red. A.M. Mazgarov, otvet. red. G.S. Sabirzyanov [Tatar Encyclopedia: In 5 vol., vol. 2: G–J. / M.Kh Khasanov, G.S. Sabirzyanov, eds.]. Kazan: Institut Tatarskoj ehnciklopedii AN RT, 2014. 720 p. (In Russ.)
Hanzafarov N.G., Zakirjanov A.M. Dramaturgiya [Drama]. In: Tatar edebiyaty tarihy: sigez tomda: 4 t.: XX joz bashy / [fenni moh. R.K. Ganieva, D.F. Zaһidullina]. Yangart. һem tulyl. 2 nche basma [The history of Tatar literature: in eight volumes: Vol. 4: The beginning of the 20th century / scientific ed. R.K Ganieva, D.F. Zagidullina. Upd. and exp. 2nd edition]. Kazan: Tatar. kit. nashr., 2023. P. 422–434. (In Tatar)
Fatih Amirhan v sociokul’turnyh kontekstah ХХ veka: materialy mezhdunarodnoj nauchnoj konferencii, posvyashchennoj 140-letiyu so dnya rozhdeniya Fatiha Amirhana / sost.: F.G. Fajzullina, G.M. Hannanova [Fatih Amirkhan in the Sociocultural Contexts of the 20th Century: Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference Dedicated to the 140th Anniversary of Fatih Amirkhan’s Birth / Compiled by F.G. Faizullina and G.M. Khannanova]. Kazan: IYALI, 2026. 300 p. (In Russ.)
- Downloads
- Published
- 2026-11-02
- Issue
- No. 2 (2026)
- Section
- Philology
- License
-

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
