Gati in contemporary Sanskrit theatre

Shanta Gandhi was an Indian theatre director, dancer and playwright. She was a founder-member of Indian People’s Theatre Association. She revived the performance of Sanskrit drama. The production of the play in Gujarati Bhavai form of theatre was famous among the contemporary theatre. She was the first to present the Madhyama vyāyoga of Bhāsa through her production. In Ūrubhaṅga directed by her purvaraṅga was performed.

Saṃskṛta Raṅga has staged many Sanskrit plays directed by V.Raghavan. He introduced dance and music in Sanskrit dramas. Dūtavākya was directed by Govardhan Panchal. Kumārasambhava was directed by Mrinalini Sarabai and this had elements of dance movements.

Kavalam Narayana Panikkar’s dramas such as Karṇabhara, Madyamavyāyoga, etc. had elements of kathakali and kūḍiāṭṭa. Movements were more uddhata in nature. Ratan tiyam directed dramas in Manipuri style. This had graceful movements. Recently K.S.Rajendran has directed dramas in modern style with some body movements and gaits. Bhumikeswar Singh has directed many dramas of Bhāsa in the style of Chau. As this style itself is based on martial art there are many vigourous movements seen in presenting the fighting scenes of the drama. Entry and exit of characters are performed with cārīs involving jumps, leaps, whirls, etc. Kamalesh Dutt Tripathi’s theatre presentations are mostly based on Nāṭyaśāstra movements emphasizing on all abhinayas.

The gait and the movements in the contemporary plays are more realistic in nature. Moreover, the movements have traces of dance but they are not actual dance. The rhythm aspect is not considered important in these movements of actors, though Kavalam Narayana Panikkar’s dramas had more rhythm based dance steps. It is observed from these dramas that the directors were influenced by the regional dance and drama movements.