Pulchritude of Rasa: The Components of Affect in Mudiyettu

Abstract

Affect theory focuses on non linguistic factors or affects that manifests itself in myriad ways, especially as emotions. This is so significant with regard to the physical aspects of dramatics. In various ways, the costumes, makeup, gestures and facial expressions conveys very distinct meanings in multiple ways. From the purview of Indian Aesthetics, Bharatha Muni's Natya Shastra contains in it significant aspects of the emotional effects of art in the process of aesthetic relishing. The rasa school gives focus to the innate tendency of human beings to respond to everything in nature. This paper titled "Pulchritude of Rasa : The Components of Affect in Mudiyettu" explores the effects created by the art form and its rendition, especially based on the rasasutra. Therefore, special focus is given to the theoretical aspects such as vibhavas, anubhavas, and vyabhichari bhavas.

Mudiyettu is an ancient art form of Kerala, which through it's brave and vigorous nature, gives voice to various muffled voices and thereby shatters the falsities and masks of grand narratives. It is a traditional ritualistic art forms which centre around the mythological story of the fight between Goddess Kali and the demon Darika. The dramatics of the whole art form is full of semiotic nuances and is a feast to the senses and intellect. This paper surveys the elements of affect theory in this rich semantically significant art form in the light of Rasa theory.