2019, Vol. 5, Issue 5, Part B

author(s)
Nirmala V

abstract
Literature holds an important place in the natural life of every human community. In India- where world’s oldest literary works had been originated- literature is known as Kāvya, as a form of art. It excludes scriptures or religious writings, histories, technical writings on science, philosophy etc and hence can be assured as secular in nature. Its main purpose is the supreme rapturous joy. Kāvya is generally divided into two as, Dṛśya (visible) and Śravya (audible). Dṛśyakāvya-s (Visual art forms) is of three types commonly referred to in the major texts of dramaturgy viz., Nṛtta, Nṛtya and Nāṭya. Nṛtta is the beautifying art that lends charm without any dramatic element, but it is not mere imitation like abhinaya. Nṛtya is the representational dance concentrates only on the production of bhava-s (emotions). While Nāṭya is the Indian formulation of dramatic art. It represents the world around us through imitation. It can also be described as the depiction of pain and pleasure in the empirical world through gestures. Nāṭya is believed to be derived by Brahmadeva, as the mimicry of the manners endowed with emotions constituted in particular situations. The term Nāṭya is replaced variously by the synonyms like Rūpa, Rūpaka, Nāṭaka etc. The present paper is an attempt to discuss about the minor types of dramas known as Uparūpaka-s.