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Panini, the grammarian, who lived almost 2500 years
before Christ mentions the name of two other dramatists, Shilali and
Krishaswa, a proof of the antiquity of the dance drama of India. |
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An idea of the intricate pattern of Kathakali can be obtained from the
fact that there are 4 varieties of actions of the head, 8 of looks, 36
kinds of glances of the eyes, 6 movements of the mouth, 9 neck
movements, 6 ways each of moving the chin, the lips, the cheeks and the
nose. The eyelids may be moved in 9 different ways, while the eyeballs
also have their 9 individual movements. (‘Indian dancing’ by Ram Gopal & Serozh Dadachanji) |
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Bharata has often been dramatised by authors and playwrights. Kalidasa,
one of the nava ratnas or Nine Jewels of the court of Vikramaditya of
the Golden Gupta period refers to him as the Celestial Playwright in his
drama Vikramorvasi. |
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