Introduction to Bharata's Natyasastra

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

About the Book

Bharata's Natyasastra, the earliest treatise on dramatics, is, even today, the origin of our dramatic tradition. Besides being the most important study of dramatics, it is also the most comprehensive. The all-inclusive quality, however, creates problems for the reader who has to go through a great deal of unnecessary information. In this Introduction to Bharata's Natyasastra, the author has culled all information essential and relevant to drama, eliminating the superfluous. Eschewing attempts to provide any kind of a scholarly or original interpretation of Bharata's views, the author has focused on giving the reader a connected account of the study of dramatic using modern terminology. The purpose is to introduce those interested in drama to Bharata's wisdom and to throw light on the state of dramatics in ancient India. Written in a simple and lucid style, the author takes the reader through topics like theatre houses, the stage and stagecraft, play-construction and the rasa theory. All lovers of drama are sure to find this book both useful and absorbing.

About the Author

Adya-Rangacharya (1904-84), was born in Agarkhed, district Bijapur. He has his education at Bombay and London universities. His writings were original and prolific, which made him a trendsetter among Kannada and Indian writers. His works include twelve novels and number of scholarly book on the Theatre, on Sanskrit drama and the Bhagavadgita; but it was as a dramatist that he made his mark (47 full-length and 68 one-act plays).

His other works in English are: Drama in Sanskrit Literature; Indian Theatre; The Natyasastra, English translation with Critical Notes; and Introduction to the Comparative Philology and Indo-Aryan Languages.

Contents:

Preface to the Second Edition 
Preface of the First Edition
1.  Introduction
2.  Origin and Objectives
3.  The First Production
4.  Theatre-House and the Stage
5.  Purvaranga
6.  Stagecraft
7.  Ten Forms of Stage-Representations
8.  Play-Construction
9.  Rasa Theory
10. Conclusion
    Index