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Gati in Theory and Practice

by Dr. Sujatha Mohan | 2015 | 88,445 words

This page relates ‘Bhagavata-mela Nataka� of the study on the Theory and Practice of Gati (“gait�) which refers to the “movement of a character on the stage�, commonly employed (as a Sanskrit technical term) in ancient Indian Theatrics and the Dramatic arts, also known as Natya-shastra. This thesis explores the history and evolution of Gati and also investigates how the various Gatis are employed in regional performance traditions.

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岵ٲ-mela ṭa첹

[Full title: Desi forms of Tamilnadu (6): 岵ٲ-mela ṭa첹]

Bhagavata-mela ṭa첹 starts with a ٴḍaⲹṅg, which is followed by the entry of the ṇaṅg. His gait is performed in a peculiar way with utplavanas, 첹ṭa 첹ṇa such as argala and so on. The gait of the ṇaṅg in the ṛtⲹṭa첹 and bhāgavatamela nāṭaka not only sends the audience into roars of laughter but also serves to rivet the attention of the audience on the coming play. 󲹲ٲṭa첹 is characterised by superior music, superior 󾱳ٲⲹ and superior dancing. The movements in these dance dramas were all based on the ṭyśٰ and post -Bharata texts.

Every character has a ś daru for his entry. These harus are set with beautiful slow movements based on the settings, which are suitable for abhinaya interpretation and footwork. In content, the daru gives us the idea of who enters and the mood and the circumstance of the entry.[1] The parikramas are seen as in the ṭyśٰ, where the character moves around the stage in a circular motion before and after each song or dance is performed. Other than this, some of the like , , پԳ and ᲹԾ are performed to move around the stage.

The highlight of the drama Bhakta Prahalada caritra is the conversation between ṃh and Hiranyakasipu where the character stands beneath the stage and here the gait of ᾱԲⲹ첹ś, forward and backward towards ṃh is very interesting. This gait will be in ī gati, heading on a fight with ṃh.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Sanskrit drama by Dr.V.Raghavan. p. 380

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