Traditional Indian Theatre: Multiple Streams (GUJARATI)

Author: Kapila Vatsyayan
Publisher: National Book Trust
Year: 1996
Language: Gujarati
Pages: 200
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8123717806

Description

The book is a pioneering study of some forms of Indian performing arts, which are neither folk nor classical in the conventional sense of the terms, but belong to a twilight region combining elements of both. Though often widely divergent in character and expression, they nevertheless present an organic cohesiveness and a world-view, which, typically as well as traditionally, are Indian. It is this unity of experience, which adds a special quality to the present work.

The contents include description and analysis of a variety of forms such as Yaksagana, Bhagavatamela, Chau, Nautanki, Ramalila and many others, and cover the whole of India, from Kerala to Uttar Pradesh, from Gujarat to Assam. While presenting them in a desired perspective, the author has not only used evidence from archaeological, textual and oral sources, whatever she says is also the result of a knowledge and comprehension, which can be expected only from an artist. An afterword by the author for the present edition has been added.