The Theatres of Bharata and Some Aspects of Sanskrit Play-production

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About the Book:

This book concerns with the chapter on the classical Indian theatre architecture described by Bharata in the second chapter of Natyasastra and its appropriate use.

While Abhinavagupta, his predecessors and successors commented on it from literary angle, some scholars of the present century have attempted to represent the theoretical ideas in varying graphic forms. But the graphic representations express diverging views. Goverdhan Panchai has presented a consistently unified conception of the theatres of Bharata, taking recourse to an interdisciplinary approach which consists of drawing references from the art and science of Indian architecture, ancient archaeological remains, other related chapters of Natyasastra and the classical plays themselves. The last reference has led him to evoke very convincing techniques of producing these plays taking cues from the directorial instructions provided by the playwrights of the past.

This book settles many of the practical problems pertaining to terminology, functional divisions of the stage, and the methods of presenting the Sanskrit plays, all of which were hitherto conjectures and postulations, and offers definiteness to the comprehension of the issues of the second chapter of Natyasastra.

About the Author:

Born at Chhatiarda, north Gujarat, on July 21, 1913, Professor Goverdhan Hemchand Panchal qualified himself in painting under Guru Nandlal Bose of Shanti Niketan. His innate abilities for theatre led him to perform on stage before Guru Rabindranath Tagore. Later, he took to designing sets. He joined the National School of Drama as an Assistant Professor for Scenic Designing and Theatre Architecture.

Prof. Panchal designed sets for around 80 plays and dance-dramas and read over 70 papers in various seminars and symposia. He wrote many more articles in reputed journals in Indian and abroad. He has also authored six books on theatre subjects including Kuttampalam and Kutiyattam - A study of the traditional theatre for the Sanskrit drama of Kerala and illustrated all of them himself. He is recipient of several prestigious awards and honours, including the National Award from Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi. His lectures and demonstration lectures are preserved by A.I.R. and Doordarshan.

Lately, Prof. Panchal directed four Sanskrit plays in the authentic style based on Natyasastra, of which "Prabuddha Rauhineyam" received national recognition.

CONTENTS

List of Illustrations
List of Figures
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements

CHAPTER 1 Introduction: Social and Cultural Background of the Theatres of Bharata

CHAPTER 2 Methodology for their Reconstruction and Some Other Aspects

CHAPTER 3 Analysis of the Angas and Upangas:
Elements of the Natyamandapas

CHAPTER 4 Bharata's Stage in Action

CHAPTER 5 Stage Technique: Use of Curtains - Pata, Yavanika and Citra-yavanika

CHAPTER 6 Aharya Abhinaya (Make-up, Costumes and Props)

CHAPTER 7 Mattavarani

CHAPTER 8 Bhasa and His Stage Technique Pre- or Post-Bharata

CHAPTER 9 Staging of Sanskrit Plays from Mid-nineteenth Century in India and Elsewhere

Bibliography
Index