Piyal Bhattacharya

Last updated

Piyal Bhattacharya
BornPiyal Bhattacharya
Howrah, Howrah, West Bengal, India
Occupation
NationalityIndian
Subject Sanskrit, Natyashastra Marga Natya

Piyal Bhattacharya is an Indian theatre director and Natyashastra scholar from Kolkata, West Bengal. He is proficient in Sanskrit, English, Bengali, Hindi and Malayalam. [1] [2] He has founded the Spanda Art Space near Garia, Kolkata.

Contents

Life and work

Born in Howrah, West Bengal, Piyal Bhattacharya received training in Kathakali under Kalamandalam Balasubramanian at Kerala Kalamandalam. [3] Later, he studied Natyashastra and musicology under Kamlesh Dutt Tripathi, Bharat Gupt, Puru Dadheech, N. Ramanathan, Urmila Sharma and others. He learnt Rudraveena of Dagar Gharana under Suvir Mishra, Asit Banerjee, Bahauddin Dagar, and of Dabir Khan Gharana from Ujwalendu Chakraborty; Haveli Sangeet under Gokulotsav Maharaj; Sarasvathi-veena under Vijaya Varalakshmi; Pung-Achoba under Premjit Singh; and Kalaripayattu under P.K. Balan Gurukkal. Bhattacharya is known for his work on the reconstruction of a holistic system of Natya from the Natyashastra, i.e., the Marga Natya. He has contributed significantly with reconstruction of the Karana (dance) including Vachikabhinaya, and Aharya, and Angahara (movements of the body, including gestures, facial expressions, and dance). He has also worked towards reconstructing the Atodyas (musical instruments or instrumental music) – Tri-Pushkaras, Vipanchi-Chitra-Mattakokila Vinas – and the Gandharva system of singing. He is a visiting faculty of National School of Drama, Sikkim, etc. [4]

Research

Piyal has undertaken thorough research into the reconstruction of Marga Natya, stemming from Nritta, Geet, and Abhinaya practices outlined in Bharata (sage)'s Natyashastra. [5] [6] [7] [8] His aim is to engage with contemporary societal issues while forging a connection between ancient and modern theatrical forms. Central to his exploration is an investigation into the linguistic nuances present in Indian theatrical traditions. [9]

Theatre direction

Bhattacharya has directed ChitraPurvaranga, [10] Uparupaka Bhanaka, [11] Bhanika [12] and Shudraka's Padmapabhritakam Bhana as Padmanka-Gatha. For two other directorial ventures, he adopted Kalidasa's Meghadutam and Ritusamharam respectively as Viraha-Gatha [13] and Samvatsar-Kathaa. [14] His directorial ventures have been performed in major national and international dance and theatre festivals[ which? ] in India. He has also adopted Bhasa's five Sanskrit plays to direct Bhasa-Bharatam, [15] a repertory-production of the National School of Drama, Sikkim.

Awards

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian classical dance</span> Performance arts rooted in Hindu musical theatre

Indian classical dance, or Shastriya Nritya, is an umbrella term for different regionally-specific Indian classical dance traditions, rooted in predominantly Hindu musical theatre performance, the theory and practice of which can be traced to the Sanskrit text Natya Shastra. The number of Indian classical dance styles ranges from six to eight to twelve, or more, depending on the source and scholar; the main organisation for Indian arts preservation, the Sangeet Natak Academy recognizes eight: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Kathakali, Sattriya, Manipuri and Mohiniyattam. Additionally, the Indian Ministry of Culture includes Chhau in its list, recognising nine total styles. Scholars such as Drid Williams add Chhau, Yakshagana and Bhagavata Mela to the list. Each dance tradition originates and comes from a different state and/or region of India; for example, Bharatanatyam is from Tamil Nadu in the south of India, Odissi is from the east coast state of Odisha, and Manipuri is from the northeastern state of Manipur. The music associated with these different dance performances consists many compositions in Hindi, Malayalam, Meitei (Manipuri), Sanskrit, Tamil, Odia, Telugu, Assamese, and many other Indian-Subcontinent languages; they represent a unity of core ideas and a diversity of styles, costumes, and expression.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koodiyattam</span> Traditional performing art form in Kerala, India

Koodiyattam is a traditional performing art form in the state of Kerala, India. It is a combination of ancient Sanskrit theatre with elements of Koothu, an ancient performing art from the Sangam era. It is officially recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yamini Krishnamurthy</span> Indian dancer (1940–2024)

Mungara Yamini Krishnamurthy was an Indian classical dancer recognized for her contributions to Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. She was a recipient of the Padma Shri (1968), Padma Bhushan (2001), Padma Vibhushan (2016) and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1977).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mani Madhava Chakyar</span> Indian actor (1899–1990)

Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar (15 February 1899 – 14 January 1990) was a celebrated master performance artist and Sanskrit scholar from Kerala, India, considered to be the greatest Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam artist and authority of modern times. He was considered as the authority of Abhinaya and Nātyaśāstra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sangeet Natak Akademi Award</span> Award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi

Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, also known as the Akademi Puraskar, is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recognition given to people in the field of performing arts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veena Sahasrabuddhe</span>

Veena Sahasrabuddhe was an Indian vocalist and composer of Hindustani classical music from Kanpur. Her singing style had its roots in Gwalior gharana, but it also borrowed from Jaipur and Kirana gharanas. Sahasrabuddhe was known as a singer of khyal and bhajan.

<i>Nātyakalpadrumam</i> Book on Keralas Sanskrit drama theatre

Nātyakalpadrumam is a book written by Guru Māni Mādhava Chākyār, considered the greatest exponent of Koodiyattam and Abhinaya in Kerala, about all aspects of ancient Sanskrit drama theatre tradition of Kerala—Kutiyattam. It was first published in Malayalam (1975) by Kerala Kalamandalam, with financial assistance of Sangeet Natak Academi, New Delhi. This work serves as a reference to both scholars and students. The entire book is written in the old Sanskrit text style closely following Nātyaśāstra. The structure and content of the book alike illustrate the knowledge of the author in both Sanskrit and Nātyaśāstra. The work received the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award in the year 1975. A Hindi translation has been published by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi.

Ratan Thiyam is an Indian playwright and theatre director, and the winner of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987, one of leading figures of the "theatre of roots" movement in Indian theatre, which started in the 1970s. Also known as Thiyam Nemai, Ratan Thiyam is known for writing and staging plays that use ancient Indian theatre traditions and forms in a contemporary context. A former painter, and proficient in direction, design, script and music, Thiyam is often considered one of leading contemporary theatre gurus.

The Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, also known as Akademi Ratna Sadasyata, is an Indian honour for the performing arts presented by Sangeet Natak Akademi. It is "the most prestigious and rare honour" conferred by the Akademi and is "restricted to 40 individuals at any given time".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bahauddin Dagar</span> Hindustani classical music artiste

Baha'ud'din Mohiuddin Dagar is the rudra veena player and son of famous north Indian musician Zia Mohiuddin Dagar. He plays rudra veena with the dagarbani style. He represents the 20th generation of Dagar lineage, referring to Nayak Haridas Dagar of the 16th century. However, he traces his ancestry to Baba Gopal Das, who converted to Islam, and became Baba Imam Baksh in the 18th century, making him the representative of the 8th generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma</span> Indian Mohiniyattam dancer (1915–1999)

Kalamandalam Kallyanikutty Amma was an epoch-making Mohiniyattam danseuse from Kerala in southern India. A native of Thirunavaya in Malappuram district of the state, she was instrumental in resurrecting Mohiniyattam from a dismal, near-extinct state into a mainstream Indian classical dance, rendering it formal structure and ornamentation.

Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar was an exponent of Dagar vani Dhrupad of Indian classical music. He represented the 19th generation of Dagar Tradition. His cousins Nasir Moinuddin Dagar and Nasir Aminuddin Dagar were known as the Senior Dagar Brothers. Similarly, Nasir Zahiruddin and Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar were known as the Junior Dagar Brothers. His other cousins were Zia Mohiuddin Dagar, Fariduddin Dagar, and H. Sayeeduddin Dagar.

Shanta Rao was a notable dancer from India. She studied and performed Kathakali, Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. She was a recipient of the Padma Shri, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and Kalidas Samman for Classical Dance. She was born in 1925 in Bombay, and lived in Mumbai and Bangalore. She hailed from Mangalore. She died on 28 December 2007 at her home at Malleswaram, Bangalore.

Paanivadathilakan P. K. Narayanan Nambiar was an Indian musician, known for his virtuosity in Mizhavu, a traditional percussion instrument and his scholarship in the art of Koodiyattom. He is considered to be one of the masters of Koodiyattom. In 2008, he was awarded Padmashri by Government of India for his services to the art.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maya Rao</span> Indian classical dancer and choreographer (1928-2014)

Maya Rao was an Indian classical dancer, choreographer and educator, in Kathak dance. She is known for her pioneering work in Kathak choreography, especially in dance ballets, and is credited for bringing Kathak, a North Indian-dance style to South India, when she opened her dance school, Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography (NIKC) in Malleswaram, Bangalore in 1987. She was also the founder director of her dance company, "Natya and Stem Dance Kampni", an amalgam of NIKC and the STEM Dance Kampni based in Bangalore. After her early training under Guru Sohanlal of Jaipur Gharana, followed by Guru Sunder Prasad also of the Jaipur Gharana, and went to train under Guru Shambhu Maharaj of Lucknow Gharana at Kathak Kendra in Delhi.

Madras Kadiravelu Saroja, was an Indian classical dancer, known for her expertise, as an exponent and as a teacher, in the classical dance form of Bharatanatyam. The Government of India honored her, in 2011, with the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for her services to the field of art and culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kavungal Chathunni Panicker</span> Indian classical dancer

Kavungal Chathunni Panicker (1922-2007) was an Indian classical dancer, known for his proficiency in Kathakali, the traditional dance form of Kerala. He was an exponent of the Kavungal School of Kathakali, noted for its rigorous training methods and overt physical interpretation of abhinaya. He is known to have brought innovations to the dance form, especially in the decorative movements (kalasam) and his contributions are reported in the development of grammar and costumes for the Kavungal School. A recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1973, Panicker was honored again by the Government of India, in 2006, with the fourth highest Indian civilian award of Padma Shri.

Kalamandalam Sugandhi is a Mohiniyattam dancer, choreographer and dance teacher from Kerala, India. She received several awards including Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Fellowship, Kerala Konkani Sahitya Academy Award and Kerala Kalamandalam Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandhya Purecha</span>

Sandhya Purecha is a senior Bharatanatyam exponent, Author and renowned practitioner of Indian classical dance. She is the first person to bring on stage the performance in Bharatnatyam style of the entire Abhinaya Darpan dance treatise as defined by Nandikeshwara in Abhinaya Darpan and as choreographed by her Guru Parvati Kumar. Purecha has researched on Kalasa Karana and published it in 2010.

<i>Marga Natya</i> Major form of Indian classical dance

Based on the study of Natya Shastra text, the common Indian grammar of performing arts and literature is referred to as Marga in the post-Natyashastra period. Deshis are regional forms of performing arts, many of which are developed based on regional taste.

References

  1. "Rising Above the Ordinary". The Statesman. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  2. "Prerona 2022". Narthaki. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  3. "Contemporary readings". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  4. "Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2022 & 2023" (PDF). Press Information Bureau, Govt of India. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  5. "Report Quest to Bring Back Burmese Harp a Precursor to Veena". DNA. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  6. "Point Missed". The Telegraph Online. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  7. "Amrit Yatra a Rare Musical Show was an Ensemble of Ancient Indian Instruments". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  8. "Restoring the core idea of Natyashastra". The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  9. "Prerona 2022". Narthaki. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  10. Banerjee, Meena (21 January 2016). "Guru of a lost tradition". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  11. Venkataraman, Leela. "The Changing Face of Classical Dance in India". Pulse Connects. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  12. "An elevating, enlightening performance". Times of India. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  13. "Rare gem". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  14. Chowdhurie, Tapati. "Samvatsar Katha" . Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  15. "Gallery Bhasbharatam". Sikkim NSD. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  16. "Sangeet Natak Akademi-winning scholar Piyal Bhattacharya takes t2ONLINE on a walkthrough of his institute Chidakash Kalalaya in Calcutta. Glimpses from the art abode". T2 Online. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  17. "Two Streams of Indian Classical Music". The Statesman. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  18. "Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2022 & 2023" (PDF). Press Information Bureau, Govt of India. Retrieved 18 April 2024.