Description of Bhāṇa

Bhāṇa or a monologue is a one-act play. Wherein the hero speaks for himself as well as for other characters who are imaginary and supposed to speak in absentia. It is feigned as though the speech of the addressee is proceeding from void. In fact, while staging a Bhāṇa it is only one actor that appears on the stage who addresses to a feigned listener and, for begetting his reply introduces the expression, “what, do you say” (Kiṃ bravīṣi) and himself speaks out the statement of the addressee. That is why it is called a Bhāṇa or a monologue^[1]. The plot of the play is purely a creation of the poet’s own imagination. The body of the play measures to a single act only, and as such, it has only the opening (Mukha) and the conclusion (Nirvāhaṇa). To a large extent it contains a description of knavish exploits by a senior parasitc engaging a host of other at accomplices with him. Rakes and parasites, whores and strumpets, match-makers and procures form the dramatis persone with gaiety and mirth as their chief occupation. In their pursuits mainly valour and blissfulness (Saubhāgya) are depicted. The hero is gay character (lalita) whose mode of behaviour is ruled over by the Bhāratī Vṛtti. The heroic and the erotic are the main sentiment in a monologue, and as subsidiaries, the fuirious (Rudra) and the comic (hāsya) could be conveniently introduced. One of the important characteristics of the monologue is the use of all the ten subdivisions of the Gentle dance (Lasyangas)^[2]. By virtue of predominance of the Bhāratī Vṛtti, Various sub-division of humour (Prahasana)^[3] find place in a monologue. In other particulars it borrows the pattern from the Nātaka.