Indian Performing Arts
Music and Dance
The Natya Shastra, is a Sanskrit book that was written on music and drama during the second century that laid out the structure of music and dance.
Two classical types of music, Karnataka (southern Indian) and Hindustani (northern Indian) have been influenced by bhakti (devotional) traditions that had been introduced after the fifth century. The Hindustani style was also influenced by Muslims who invaded India from the north. The Muslims Influenced the Hindustani instruments, styles and schools of performance.
Dance has an important role in India as a part of worship, a pastime and as a part of Sanskrit dramas. Classical dance can be found in many different forms; manipuri, kathak, bharata natyam and kathakali. The kathak style started in northern India and with over a hundred ankle bells on, it’s emphasis is on rhythmic footwork. Manipuri, which began in Manipur, uses graceful turning and swaying in its dances. Faces made up to look like masks, along with the use of mime are the characteristics of kathakali dance. Bharata natyam (based on the Natya Shastra) is probably the most noteworthy dance form. This is the style that comes to mind when Indian dance is mentioned. It has graceful hand gestures, exacting movements and facial expressions, each one having its own meaning.
Theatre and Film
Theater (drama) has been around in India for over a thousand years. The Sanskrit drama blossomed during the Gupta Era (AD 320-550) and the plays from that era are generally secular. One of the dramas that survived was Sakuntala, by Kalidasa, which is about courtesans, kings and the court. Theater is popular in Calcutta, but is struggling since the arrival of television and movies.
More films come out of India than any other country and written with a formula that is expanded on with music and dancing. The themes fluctuate from social to historical and religious and the plots are rarely realistic. There are also Indian imitations of Western films.