Question

Who wrote the Natyashastra?
A) Bharata
B) Chanakya
C) Kalhana
D) Sudraka

Answer 1

Hint: The Natya Shastra is the basic work of dramatic theory, including a wide range of dance and music, in classical India.

Complete answer:
Bharata wrote the Natyashastra.
1) The Natya Shastra is believed to have been written by the Brahman sage (muni) and priest Bharata during the period between 200 B.C. and 200 A.D. It is the result of various centuries of theatrical practice by hereditary actors, who passed their tradition and culture orally from generation to generation.

2) It is in the form of loose dialogue between the Bharata muni and a lot of other munis (sages) who approached him, asking about natyaveda (natya means ‘drama, performance’ and veda means ‘knowledge’)

3) It encompasses a wide range of topics,from affairs of literary construction, to the design of the stage or mandapa; to a detailed analysis of musical scales and movements, to an analysis of dance forms that considers various categories of body movements and their effect on the viewer.

4) Bharat’s concept of drama refers to bhavas, the imitations of emotions that the actors perform, and the rasas (emotional responses) that they emerge in the audience. The eight basic bhavas are: astonishment, love, disgust, humour, energy, grief, anger and fear.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: It consists of a set of precepts on the writing and performance of dance, music and theater and while it basically deals with stagecraft. It also influenced Indian music, dance sculpture, painting, and literature as well. Hence this is also considered as the foundation of the fine arts in India.