Thiruvananthapuram: Theatre personality Prasanth Narayanan, founder of Kalam has started a weekly programme Natyasastra Kalam on Wednesdays in the state capital to introduce aesthetics of Natya Sastra. Natya Sastra, believed to be the oldest text on performing arts, is a rich and elaborate treatise touching upon various aspects of stage art. The programme was inaugurated by former Kalamandalam Vice- Chancellor K.G. Paulose.
The first class as part of the programme will be taken by Kathakali expert P. Venugopalan from 6 pm to 8 pm at November 22 at Kalam-Abhinava Keshtra Campus at GK Junction in Kovalam bypass road at 6 pm where he would explain the first few slokas from the first chapter of the Natya Sasthra named Natya Ulpathi. Those who wanted to take part in the programme should contact 9447164321 and 0471-2464077.
The programme Natyas-astrakalam, is an offshoot of Thiruvananthapuram-based acting school Kalam. The plan was to have modern interpretation of Natya Sastra, said Mr Narayanan. The text originally written in Sanskrit will be discussed without identifying it with a particular religion. This was because, there were concrete attempts to link the text with religion, said Mr Narayanan. “Natyasastrakalam will provide a platform for those who can indulge in serious discussions on various topics related to the text,” says Prasanth Narayanan , founder of Kalam.
At present no university was teaching Natyasastra as part of their syllabus even though foreign texts have been part of the curriculum. Many considered Natyasastra at par with poetics of Aristotle, said Mr Narayanan. There are two reasons why Natyasatra did not get proper attention. Some thought it was too tough to handle. Others were of the view that it was not relevant. Both, the argument were false, said Mr Narayanan. Natyasastra is not a exclusively text for theatre artists and classical dancers alone. It has discussed art as a whole. Hence, anybody can participate, said Mr Narayanan.
