Natya - Mandapa
CEPT Excellence Award
The Project 'Natya-Mandapa' was recognised as the project of excellence by CEPT University in Spring 2023. It was later exhibited in CEPT Library.
Natya-Mandapa is a theatrical set designed for the Sanskrit play Ramanattam, performed through the traditional Indian dance form Kathakali. The play, Ramlila, showcases heroic narratives of natural beings, gods, and demons. The performers’ Bhav (emotions) evoke various rasas (moods) in the audience, creating an immersive and emotional connection with the act.
The chosen site, Kedar Ghat, holds significant importance for the Malayali community. The temple atop the ghat reflects the Chettinad architectural style, and the theatre design emerges as an extension of the temple court, transforming it into a performance space. The descent down the ghat evokes the sensation of entering the vast well of the Ganga River. To enhance this spatial quality, the framework construction was conceptualized to reflect the characteristics of a stepwell.
The framework employs linear Pinewood elements, with each column comprising four members. To embody the concept of Darshan (the act of seeing with devotion), various props were designed, including brackets to highlight the throne, Gopurams to mark entry points and represent heaven, and screens inspired by the basic geometry of Dravidian architecture. These elements emphasize Darshan by accentuating the characters with elaborate props, eliciting an emotional response of Bhakti Bhav (devotion) from the audience.
This theatrical set beautifully integrates architectural and cultural elements, enhancing the spiritual and emotional engagement of the performance.
Tutor: Sunita Dalvi
Semester 10 | Spring 2023
