Gati in Theory and Practice
by Dr. Sujatha Mohan | 2015 | 88,445 words
This page relates 鈥楩indings through this research鈥� of the study on the Theory and Practice of Gati (鈥済ait鈥�) which refers to the 鈥渕ovement of a character on the stage鈥�, commonly employed (as a Sanskrit technical term) in ancient Indian Theatrics and the Dramatic arts, also known as Natya-shastra. This thesis explores the history and evolution of Gati and also investigates how the various Gatis are employed in regional performance traditions.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Findings through this research
1. Gati is an integral part of 苍腻峁瓂补 (acting), 苍峁泃测补 (expressive dance) and 苍峁泃迟补 (abstract dance)
Gati can be understood as seen in 苍腻峁瓂补, 苍峁泃迟补 and 苍峁泃测补. In 苍腻峁瓂补, gaits or walks can be connected with moods and characters, in 苍峁泃测补 they can be movements and dancing steps performed with expressive elements and in 苍峁泃迟补 they can be just movements of the limbs, which add beauty to the theme. Gati is seen in 苍腻峁瓂补 and 苍峁泃迟补 in the 狈腻峁瓂补艣腻蝉迟谤补. The 础产丑颈苍补惫补产丑腻谤补迟颈 and 厂补峁単墨迟补谤补迟苍腻办补谤补 states that, gati can be performed for the 产丑腻惫补蝉 through the 办补谤补峁嘺蝉. In 厂补峁単墨迟补尘耻办迟腻惫补濒颈, gati is based on 产丑腻惫补, rasa and 苍峁泃迟补. The 础产丑颈苍补测补诲补谤辫补峁嘺 gives a list of gati based on an animal鈥檚 movement. The 狈峁泃迟补谤补迟苍腻惫补濒颈 deals with gati based on rhythm. Therefore, there has been a wide range of gati in 苍腻峁瓂补, 苍峁泃迟补 and 苍峁泃测补. The present misconception of gati as related to rhythmic aspects alone is the evolution of gati seen in due course.
2. Gati is instrumental in bringing out the rasa in 苍腻峁瓂补
Rasa is an important aspect of 苍腻峁瓂补. Bharata states that gati is involved in bringing out the rasa as soon as the character enters.
yath膩m膩rgarasopeta峁� prak峁泃墨n膩峁� prave艣ane ||[1]
狈腻峁瓂补, which is termed as 谤补蝉补艣谤补测补, is 惫腻办测腻谤迟丑补 abhinaya says Dhananjaya.[2] The rasa is experienced on seeing the character enact the mood or the 产丑腻惫补 through the whole body. Thus, gati is an integral part of 腻峁単颈办补 abhinaya. It is a combination of 腻峁単颈办补 and s膩ttvika abhinayas. Therefore, gati is 产丑腻惫补ras膩tmaka.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Infra XII.2.
[2]:
Da艣ar奴paka Infra. P.12