Who is the author of the 'Natyashastra'?

The "Natyashastra" is an ancient Sanskrit treatise on the performing arts, including drama, dance and music, attributed to the sage Bharata Muni. It was probably composed between about 200 BCE and 200 CE.

About the Natyashastra:

• It has about 36 (or 37) chapters and around 6,000 verses.
• It covers almost every aspect of theatre: the design of the theatre building, acting, gestures, costumes, make-up, music, musical instruments, dance, poetry, dramatic structure and the training of actors.
• According to legend, Brahma created the "Natyaveda" (the fifth Veda) by taking words from the Rigveda, music from the Samaveda, acting from the Yajurveda and emotions from the Atharvaveda, and taught it to Bharata.
• It describes four types of abhinaya (expression): angika (body), vachika (speech), aharya (costume and make-up) and sattvika (inner emotion).

Rasa theory:

• The Natyashastra is famous for its theory of "rasa" (aesthetic flavour or emotional experience).
• It describes eight rasas: shringara (love), hasya (humour), karuna (compassion), raudra (anger), veera (heroism), bhayanaka (fear), bibhatsa (disgust) and adbhuta (wonder).
• A ninth rasa, "shanta" (peace), was added later by scholars such as Abhinavagupta, giving the idea of "navarasa".
• Each rasa arises from a corresponding "bhava" (emotion).

Influence:

• All Indian classical dance forms, such as Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Kuchipudi and Odissi, trace their roots to the Natyashastra.
• Abhinavagupta (10th-11th century, Kashmir) wrote the famous commentary "Abhinavabharati" on it.

Other treatises on performing arts:

• Nandikeshvara: "Abhinaya Darpana" (gestures in dance).
• Matanga: "Brihaddeshi" (music).
• Sharngadeva: "Sangita Ratnakara" (music and dance).

Why not the other options?

• ✗Nandikeshvara wrote "Abhinaya Darpana".
• ✗Kalidasa was a playwright and poet, not the author of the Natyashastra.
• ✗Matanga wrote "Brihaddeshi".