The Contents

Living Traditions of Natyasastra / Edited by Dr. C. Rajendran. 1st ed. Delhi, New Bharatiya Book Corporation. 2002. viii, 191 p. ills. (col.). 25 cm.

ISBN: 818741846X        KK-18884

Most of the papers collected in the present volume have a common theme : they deal with the amazing persistence and continuity of the Natyasastra tradition even in the contemporary theatre. Most of the papers were originally presented in a U.G.C. Seminar on "Living Traditions of Natyasastra in India" conducted by the Department of Sanskrit, University of Calicut in November, 1995. A few items had to be included to the volume to cover areas left out in the Seminar. There are some other papers also which deal with peripheral problems related to Natysastra tradition, especially its text and meaning.

The term contemporary theatre is used in the present context in a broad sense to include not only classical art forms like Kathakali and Kutiyattam, but even modern experimental theatre. Natyasastra, ascribed to the mythical Bharata, is encyclopedic in its scope and range. Its authorship, date, and even textual details may be problematic. But there can be no denying of the fact that it represents an Indian attempt to give shape to its own theatrical philosophy which was never lost sight of until the advent of modernity ushered in by colonialism. Hence, we just cannot imagine a genuine Indian threater without a reference to the broad theoritical framework outlined in this extra-ordinarily rich storehouse of indigenous theatrical knowledge. Regional art forms like Kutiyattam, Kathakali, Krisnanattam, Yaksagana, Bharatanatyam or even folk forms like the Yatra of Bengal are tied to the Natyasastra through an umbilical chord. For that matter, even modern experimental theatre makes use of the stagecraft of Bharata and concepts like that of the Sutradhara.

Contents

Preface

1. Natyasastra and India Theatre / Radhavallabh Tripathi

2. Performance According to Natyasastra / C. Rajendran

3. Play production in Ancient India / N. V. P. Unithiri

4. Two Controversial Aspects of Bharata's Theatre / Radhavallabha Tripathi

5. Bharata's Natyasastra and the Theatric Universe of Kalidasa / Radhavallabh Tripathi

6. Music in Natyasastra / C. Rajendran

7. Kutiyattam-The Sanskrit Theatre with a Regional Idiom / C. Rajendran

8. Bhasa Plays on Kerala's stage / N. P. Unni

9. Folk Elements in Classical Theatre / Radhavallabh Tripathi

10. Folk Elements in Kerala's Sanskrit Theatre / C. Rajendran

11. Comic Relief by Non-vidusaka Characters in Kutiyattam / L. S. Rajagopalan

12. Rajasekhara's Contribution to Indian Theatre / Radhavallabh Tripathi

13. Krsnanattam-The Sanskrit Dance drama of Kerala / K. N. Neelakantan Elayath

14. Kerala's Traditional Shadow Puppet Theatre / T. Vasudevan

15. Natyadharmi and Lokadharmi / V. Kaladharan

16. Natyasastra Traditions in Bengali Theatre / Meera Chakravarthy

17. Natyasastra and the Present-day Bharatanatyam Tradition / Sucheta Chapekar

18. Natyasastra and Classical Dance-An Overview / C. Panduranga Bhatta

19. Elements of the Natyasastra in Yaksagana / G. S. Hegde

20. The Role of Sutradhara in Modern Theatre / N. R. Gramaprakash

Contributors

Contributors

1. Dr. G. S. Hegde, Dept of Sanskrit, J. S. S. College, Dharward, Karnatak.

2. V. Kaladharan, Kerala Kalamandalam, Cheruturuthi, Kerala.

3. Dr. Meera Chakravarthy, Professor of Sanskrit, Bangalore University, Bangalore.

4. N. R. Gramaprakash, Sr. Grade Lecturer, S. N. College, Shoranur.

5. Dr. C. Panduranga Bhatta, Professor, Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta.

6. Dr. K. Neelakantan Elayath, Professor of Sanskrit, University of Calicut, Kerala.

7. Dr. Radhavallabh Tripathi, Professor & Head, Dept of Sanskrit, Dr. Hari Singh Gaur University, Sagar (MP).

8. L. S. Rajagopal, Ganapathi Agraharam, Poomkunnam, Trichur.

9. Dr. C. Rajendran, Professor & Head, Dept. of Sanskrit University of Calicut, Kerala.

10. Sucheta Chapekar, Dance Artist, Poona University, Poona.

11. Dr. N. P. Unni, 27/1 - 148, Sreelasyam, Rishimangalam, Vanchiyoor, Thiruvananthapuram.

12. Dr. N. V. P. Unithiri, Director, State Institute of Languages, Thiruvananthapuram.

13. Dr. T. Vasudevan, Lecturer in Sahitya, Sri Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, Ernakulam Dt.