Abhinaya
Encyclopedia
Abhinaya is a concept in Indian dance and drama derived from Bharata's Natya Shastra
. Although now, the word has come to mean 'the art of expression', etymologically it derives from Sanskrit
abhi- 'towards' + nii- 'leading/guide', so literally it means a 'leading towards' (leading the audience towards a sentiment, a rasa)
Aside from its clear impact on dramatic tradition, it is used as an integral part of all the Indian classical dance
styles, which all feature some kind of mimetic aspect to certain compositions, for example in depictions of daily life or devotional pieces.
A principal division is that between natyadharmi abhinaya and lokadharmi abhinaya. The former is poetic and stylistic in nature, following a codified manner of presenting emotion and expression which pertains to the conventions of the stage, which appear to have greater 'artistry' by virtue of taking something from natural life and rendering it in a suitably stylised way. Lokadharmi abhinaya is the opposite: realistic and un-stylised, involving very natural expression and movement, as occurs in daily life. Often this is the more difficult as the possibilities for interpretation of an emotion or a line of poetry are endless.
.
This relates to how expression is carried out through speech. It is obviously therefore more overtly used in drama, but also in music: in how the singer expresses the emotion through his or her singing. Traces of Vāchika Abhinaya are preserved in Kuchipudi
and Melattur style
of Bharatanatyam
where the dancers often mouth the words of the songs to support Padartha abhinaya. Kerala still has on stage art forms (Naatya) whicn have Vāchika Abhinaya as a dominant component - Koodiyattam, Nangyar Kooothu, Ottan, Seetangan & Parayan - the tree types of Thullal, Mudiyettu are the most popular ones.
the decoration of the stage theatre including lights and accessories realated to the scene depicted which enchanes the rasa between the audience and artists also comes under this category.
Aharya Abhinaya is very prominent in kathakali where ther are totally different dress and makeup for 4 different characters. for eg:
The good characters have packha vesham (green makeup) untile the demons are evil characters have kati vesham in which the nose is painted red.
but in solo dance performancs, aharya abhinaya is as per convention.
Natya Shastra
The Natya Shastra is an ancient Indian treatise on the performing arts, encompassing theatre, dance and music. It was written during the period between 200 BC and 200 AD in classical India and is traditionally attributed to the Sage Bharata.The Natya Shastra is incredibly wide in its scope...
. Although now, the word has come to mean 'the art of expression', etymologically it derives from Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
abhi- 'towards' + nii- 'leading/guide', so literally it means a 'leading towards' (leading the audience towards a sentiment, a rasa)
Aside from its clear impact on dramatic tradition, it is used as an integral part of all the Indian classical dance
Classical Indian dance
Indian classical dance is a relatively new umbrella term for various codified art forms rooted in Natya, the sacred Hindu musical theatre styles, whose theory can be traced back to the Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni .- Definitions :...
styles, which all feature some kind of mimetic aspect to certain compositions, for example in depictions of daily life or devotional pieces.
Lokadharmi and Natyadharmi Abhinaya
The Four Ingredients of Abhinaya
Abhinaya can further be divided into four categories, as set down by the Natya ShastraNatya Shastra
The Natya Shastra is an ancient Indian treatise on the performing arts, encompassing theatre, dance and music. It was written during the period between 200 BC and 200 AD in classical India and is traditionally attributed to the Sage Bharata.The Natya Shastra is incredibly wide in its scope...
.
Āṅgika Abhinaya
This relates to the movement of the body, and how the thing to be expressed is portrayed by movement of the anga or limbs.This relates to the movement of the body, and how the thing to be expressed is portrayed by movement of the anga or limbs, which include facial expressions. There are different schools of Abhinaya, with the expressions ranging from the grotesque to the understated, from the crude to the refined. Āngika abhinaya forms either Padartha abhinaya (when the artiste delineates each word of the lyrics with gestures and expressions), or Vaakyartha abhinaya (where the dancer acts out an entire stanza or a sentence).Vāchika Abhinaya
Kuchipudi
Kuchipudi is a Classical Indian dance form Andhra Pradesh, India. It is also popular all over South India. Kuchipudi is the name of a village in the Divi Taluka of Krishna district that borders the Bay of Bengal and with resident Brahmins practicing this traditional dance form, it acquired the...
and Melattur style
Melattur style
The Melattur style of Bharatanatyam dance was developed largely out of the devadasi traditions and Melattur Bhagavata Mela by Mangudi Dorairaja Iyer , a sanyasi following Srividya Upasana. He re-established the Suddha Nrittam , Bhattasa Natyam and Perani Natyam...
of Bharatanatyam
Bharatanatyam
Bharata Natyam or Chadhir Attam, is a classical dance form from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, practiced predominantly in modern times by women. The dance is usually accompanied by classical Carnatic music...
where the dancers often mouth the words of the songs to support Padartha abhinaya. Kerala still has on stage art forms (Naatya) whicn have Vāchika Abhinaya as a dominant component - Koodiyattam, Nangyar Kooothu, Ottan, Seetangan & Parayan - the tree types of Thullal, Mudiyettu are the most popular ones.
Āhārya Abhinaya
Another means of representation of the play is indeed the costumes and physical decorations of the actors and the theatre. in dramas, and dance dramas, costume and making distinguish the sex, race, sect or class or the social position of the characters, giving the production of the presentation some semblance of reality.the decoration of the stage theatre including lights and accessories realated to the scene depicted which enchanes the rasa between the audience and artists also comes under this category.
Aharya Abhinaya is very prominent in kathakali where ther are totally different dress and makeup for 4 different characters. for eg:
The good characters have packha vesham (green makeup) untile the demons are evil characters have kati vesham in which the nose is painted red.
but in solo dance performancs, aharya abhinaya is as per convention.
Sāttvika Abhinaya
Sāttvika Abhinaya is often confused with facial expressions, which belong to Āngika Abhinaya. Sāttvika Abhinaya is the mental message, emotion or image communicated to the spectators through eyes. The dancer or actor has to bring of their own experiences something which will be authentic and capture the audience and elicit an empathetic response in them.See also
- NātyakalpadrumamNatyakalpadrumamNātyakalpadrumam is a book written by Nātyāchārya Vidūshakaratnam Padma Shri Guru Māni Mādhava Chākyār about all aspects of ancient Sanskrit drama theatre tradition of Kerala- Kutiyattam...
- Natyashastra
- Navarasa
- Rasa (aesthetics)
- Sanskrit dramaSanskrit dramaThe earliest-surviving fragments of Sanskrit drama date from the 1st century CE. The Mahābhāṣya by Patañjali contains the earliest reference to what may have been the seeds of Sanskrit drama. This treatise on grammar from 140 BCE provides a feasible date for the beginnings of theatre in India.Its...
- Classical Indian danceClassical Indian danceIndian classical dance is a relatively new umbrella term for various codified art forms rooted in Natya, the sacred Hindu musical theatre styles, whose theory can be traced back to the Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni .- Definitions :...