Piyal Bhattacharya

Born in Howrah, West Bengal, Piyal Bhattacharya received training in Kathakali under Kalamandalam Balasubramanian at Kerala Kalamandalam.{{cite news |title=Contemporary readings |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/contemporary-readings/article17319079.ece |website=The Hindu |access-date=19 April 2024}} Later, he studied Natyashastra and musicology under Kamlesh Dutt Tripathi, Bharat Gupt, Puru Dadheech, N. Ramanathan, Urmila Sharma and others. He learnt Rudraveena of Dagar Gharana under Suvir Mishra, Asit Banerjee, Bahauddin Dagar, and of Dabir Khan Gharana from Ujwalendu Chakraborty; Haveli Sangeet under Gokulotsav Maharaj; Sarasvathi-veena

under Vijaya Varalakshmi; Pung-Achoba under Premjit Singh; and Kalaripayattu under P.K. Balan Gurukkal. Bhattacharya is known for his work on the reconstruction of a holistic system of Natya from the Natyashastra, i.e., the Marga Natya. He has contributed significantly with reconstruction of the Karana (dance) including Vachikabhinaya, and Aharya, and Angahara (movements of the body, including gestures, facial expressions, and dance). He has also worked towards reconstructing the Atodyas (musical instruments or instrumental music)

– Tri-Pushkaras, Vipanchi-Chitra-Mattakokila Vinas – and the Gandharva system of singing. He is a visiting faculty of National School of Drama, Sikkim.{{cite web |title=Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2022 & 2023 |url=https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2024/mar/doc202437320201.pdf |website=Press Information Bureau, Govt of India |access-date=18 April 2024}}

Piyal has undertaken thorough research into the reconstruction of Marga Natya, stemming from Nritta, Geet, and Abhinaya practices outlined in Bharata (sage)'s Natyashastra.{{cite news |title=Report Quest to Bring Back Burmese Harp a Precursor to Veena |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report-quest-to-bring-back-burmese-harp-a-precursor-to-veena-2334702 |access-date=4 May 2024 |publisher=DNA}}{{cite news |title=Point Missed |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/point-missed/cid/1466706 |access-date=4 May 2024 |publisher=The Telegraph Online}}{{cite news |title=Amrit Yatra a Rare Musical Show was an Ensemble of Ancient Indian Instruments |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/amrit-yatra-a-rare-musical-show-was-an-ensemble-of-ancient-indian-instruments/article68019551.ece |access-date=4 May 2024 |work=The Hindu}}{{cite web |title=Restoring the core idea of Natyashastra |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/culture/arts/review-bhaanotsav-designed-and-directed-by-piyal-bhattacharya-based-on-natyashastra/cid/1763851 |website=The Telegraph |access-date=19 April 2024}} His aim is to engage with contemporary societal issues while forging a connection between ancient and modern theatrical forms. Central to his exploration is an investigation into the linguistic nuances present in Indian theatrical traditions.

Bhattacharya has directed ChitraPurvaranga,{{cite news |last1=Banerjee |first1=Meena |title=Guru of a lost tradition |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/Guru-of-a-lost-tradition/article14012140.ece |website=The Hindu |date=21 January 2016 |access-date=18 April 2024}} Uparupaka Bhanaka,{{cite web |last1=Venkataraman |first1=Leela |title=The Changing Face of Classical Dance in India |url=http://www.pulseconnects.com/changing-face-classical-dance-india |website=Pulse Connects |access-date=18 April 2024}} Bhanika{{cite news |title=An elevating, enlightening performance |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/theatre/an-elevating-enlightening-performance/articleshow/66194015.cms |website=Times of India |date=13 October 2018 |access-date=18 April 2024}} and Shudraka's Padmapabhritakam Bhana as Padmanka-Gatha. For two

other directorial ventures, he adopted Kalidasa's Meghadutam and Ritusamharam respectively as Viraha-Gatha{{cite web |title=Rare gem |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/culture/arts/review-virahagatha-produced-by-chidakash-kalalay/cid/1804498 |website=The Telegraph |access-date=18 April 2024}}

and Samvatsar-Kathaa.{{cite web |last1=Chowdhurie |first1=Tapati |title=Samvatsar Katha |url=https://narthaki.com/info/rev22/rev2731.html |access-date=18 April 2024}} His directorial ventures have been performed in major national and international dance

and theatre festivals{{which|date=April 2024}} in India. He has also adopted Bhasa's five Sanskrit plays to direct Bhasa-Bharatam,{{cite web |title=Gallery Bhasbharatam |url=https://sikkim.nsd.gov.in/gallery_bhasbharatam |website=Sikkim NSD |access-date=18 April 2024}} a repertory-production of the National School of Drama, Sikkim.

• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2023 for his contribution in Other Major Traditions of Theatre (Sanskrit Theatre){{cite news |url=https://t2online.in/music/indian/sangeet-natak-akademi-winning-scholar-piyal-bhattacharya-takes-t2online-on-a-walkthrough-of-his-institute-chidakash-kalalaya-in-calcutta.-glimpses-from-the-art-abode/897308 |title=Sangeet Natak Akademi-winning scholar Piyal Bhattacharya takes t2ONLINE on a walkthrough of his institute Chidakash Kalalaya in Calcutta. Glimpses from the art abode|access-date=4 May 2024 |publisher=T2 Online}}{{cite news |title=Two Streams of Indian Classical Music |url=https://www.thestatesman.com/supplements/marquee/two-streams-of-indian-classical-music-1503291758.html |access-date=4 May 2024 |publisher=The Statesman}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Bengali Hindus

Category:20th-century Bengalis

Category:Bengali theatre personalities

Category:Indian theatre directors

Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)