Question

What was one of the earliest mentions of performers, or "natas," in Indian dramatic tradition?

• A. The Ramayana
• B. The Mahabharata
• C. The Natyashastra
• D. The Bhagavad Gita

Answer 1

Answer:

B. The Mahabharata

Sanskrit Theatre Drama, as a literary form, typically tells a story not only through dialogue but also through the gestures, movements, and facial expressions of the characters, along with elements such as dance, costumes, background scenery, music, and stage design. Therefore, drama is a performative art that involves many components and contributors, including the playwright, actors, director, audience, costume designers, make-up artists, and more. The Indian dramatic tradition was shaped by the dramatic elements found in the Vedas, including dialogue hymns and Vedic rituals. It is during the Vedic period (1500–1000 BCE) that we first encounter these dramatic features, which would go on to define Indian drama and eventually give rise to the genre of Indian Classical Drama. Even the epics, such as the Mahabharata, mention performers, or "natas," as early as 400 CE. The most significant treatise on Indian drama, the Natyashastra by Bharatamuni, was written in the 3rd century CE. Bharata attributes a divine origin to the dramatic tradition, underscoring its Vedic religious roots. The existence of such a text indicates that it was the result of a long process of dramatic development during that era.