3. Prastavana (introductory part)

The dramatic feature‘Prastavana’ is the introductory part of a Nataka. It is in a conversation form between the Sutradhara and an actress or a comedian or an attendant.

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Either the actress, Vidushaka, or pariparshvika make a conversation with the Sutradhara in the beginning of the play is called Prastavana. They convey the preface or situation of the story with their mutual conversation.

The prastavana includes five divisions-Udghatyaka, Upodghata, Prayogatishaya, Pravartaka and Avagalita.

In Annadatricarita also dramatist linked the Prastavana as a conversation between the Sutradhara and Nati. In this part, Sutradhara asked Nati to suggest a new drama to perform in the birth day celebration of their ruler Chittiratirunal Balaramavarma. She suggested him a new unperformed play Annadatricarita which deals with the story of one of the ancestors of Chittiratirunal Balaramavarma. The Sutradhara agreed the suggestion and departed from stage after hearing the cheer of the people who arrived to participate in the birthday celebrations of the king. This Prastavana can be included in the Avagalita division.

The Pravartaka division of prastavana can be define as—

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Where the scholars (here the spectators) make the awareness of an activity by the usage of another activity is called Avagalita prastavana.

In Annadatricarita, the Sutradharadeparted from the stage after hearing the announcement of the arrival of an envoy and a soldier in the fort gate.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Sahityadarpana of Vishvanathakaviraja, Ed. by AcharyaSheshraja Sharma Regmi, (Varanasi: ChowkhambaKrishnadas Academy, 2004), 402-403.