Dancing to Play or to Pray : A Comparative Study of Prahlada Yakshaganam in Kuchipudi and Melattur Bhagavata Mela Traditions
Contents: Foreword. Preface. 1. An Introductory Comparison to the Kuchipudi and Melattur Dance Traditions. 2. Sources and Significance of Prahlada Story in Kuchipudi and Melattur Dance Traditions. 3. The Two Prahlada Yakshaganams – a Macro Level Comparison. 4. The Two Prahlada Yakshaganams – a Micro Level Comparison. 5. Conclusion. Bibliography. Index.
The present work is organized into five chapters. The first chapter, being introductory, attempts to provide the basis of this book. The second and third chapters lay foundation and provide background for this comparison. The first chapter is a comparative study of the repertories of the Melattur and the Kuchipudi dance traditions which provides the hypothesiswith which the comparison of Prahlada Charitra Natakams in the third and the fourth chapters is taken up. The first chapter is also a comparative introduction to the tradition of Kuchipudi and Melattur dance forms. Kuchipudi is performance oriented, while Melattur is spiritual and ritualistic oriented. Review of previous literature on the present subject is also provided in this chapter to emphasize on the relevance of research undertaken.
The second chapter provides cultural, historical and literary background against which a comparison in the third and the fourth chapter is carried out. In all these chapters a consistent stream of comparative analysis has been consciously maintained.
The comparison between Prahlada Charitra Natakams has been included in the third and the fourth chapters, which are macro and micro level comparisons of Kuchipudi and Melattur Prahlada Charitra Natakams, respectively.
On account of the state and nature of dance research, heavy reliance on interviews with the tradition bearers of different dance forms and senior scholars in the field becomes inevitable. The third and the fourth chapters deal with performance study of Kuchipudi and Melattur Prahlada Charitra Natakams. These chapters are supported by field work observations and analysis rather than be references to existing literature, which finds place in the first and second chapters. The fifth chapter is concluding chapter and it enlists the results of the research undertaken and also offers suggestions for undertaking further research in this area.(jacket)
