The Role and Subtlety of Rasa in Dramas – Prof. Radhavallabh Tripathi

CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: At the ongoing 21-day Natyashastra workshop at Central Sanskrit University, Bhopal, world-renowned Natyashastra scholar Prof. Radhavallabh Tripathi delivered a lecture on the role of Rasa in dramas. He explained that the audience experiences Rasa (aesthetic flavor) through the performance of a play. Therefore, a performer must remain alert at every step of their performance to ensure that the essence of Rasa is not lost.

In his lecture, he analyzed the technical terms related to Rasa as used in the Natyashastra. While discussing various sthaayi-bhaavas (permanent emotional states), he illustrated their meanings with examples. He elaborated on philosophical aspects of dramatic terms such as Leela (divine play), Aachaar (conduct), Raag (emotion), and Bhog (experience), and highlighted the significant contributions of Sharadatanaya in interpreting these theatrical elements.

On this occasion, he also discussed the subtle nuances of Rasa theory found in the Natyashastra tradition and clarified the concept of Rasa in light of various philosophical schools. He noted that Sharadatanaya interpreted many terms by considering their practical usage in society, and Prof. Tripathi provided an in-depth discussion on those as well.

Prof. Radhavallabh Tripathi addressed the participants of the workshop with deep insights into classical dramaturgy.