UGC-NET – Paper II: PERFORMING ARTS – DANCE, DRAMA, THEATRE (Code: 65)
Exam Cycle: June 2026
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COURSE OVERVIEW
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Subject Name: PERFORMING ARTS – DANCE, DRAMA, THEATRE
Subject Code: 65
Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
Paper Type: Paper-II – PERFORMING ARTS – DANCE, DRAMA, THEATRE
Total Marks: 200
Total Questions: 100 MCQs
Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
Duration: 3 Hours (Paper I + II combined)
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COMPLETE LIST OF UNITS
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Unit I: Cultural History of India.
Unit II: Folk and Traditional Theatre Forms of India.
Unit III: The Natvasastra.
Unit IV: Art and Aesthetics.
Unit V: Dance and Theatre forms of East and South Asian Countries.
Unit VI (Dance): Dance in Sanskrit Literature and Treatises.
Unit VII (Dance): India Classical Dance.
Unit VIII (Dance): Indian Classical Dance in Independent India.
Unit IX (Dance): Dance Education, Pedagogy and Research.
Unit X (Dance): International dance and interactions.
Unit VI (Drama/Theatre): Drama and its theories: Indian and Western.
Unit VII (Drama/Theatre): Modern Indian Theatre.
Unit VIII (Drama/Theatre): Acting and Direction.
Unit IX (Drama/Theatre): Theatre Design and techniques.
Unit X (Drama/Theatre): Theatre Education, Pedagogy and Research.
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UNIT-WISE DETAILED SYLLABUS
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Unit I: Cultural History of India.
Topic 1: Cultures of India from pre-historic to CE 1200.
Topic 2: Evolution of Art in pre-historic and historic periods, as evidenced in cave paintings, sculptures and other visual representations.
Topic 3: Evolution of dance and drama (Natya), (a) the divine origin theory according to Natyasastra, and, (b) art as a product of society, its rituals and belief systems.
• (a) the divine origin theory according to Natyasastra
• (b) art as a product of society, its rituals and belief systems
Topic 4: The Vedas, major epics and puranas (Ramayana, Mahabharata, Cilappadikaram and Bhagavatapurana) in terms of their content, character and relevance to dance and theatre.
• Ramayana
• Mahabharata
• Cilappadikaram
• Bhagavatapurana
Topic 5: Bhakti and various religious movements and their influence on different representative aspects of culture with focus on dance and theatre.
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Unit II: Folk and Traditional Theatre Forms of India.
Topic 1: Understanding and defining the terms Tribal, Folk, Traditional and Classical in the context of Indian dance and drama and their interrelation.
Topic 2: Introduction to the different tribal, folk and traditional dance and theatre forms spread over various regions of India.
Topic 3: Introduction to regional theatrical practices of Kudiattam, Yakshagana, Bhagavatamela, Tamasha, Ramallia, Rasallia, Bhavai, Nautanki, Jatra, Chhau, Laiharaoba, Therukoothu, Theyyam, Ankia-nat, Pandvani, Chindu Bhagavata, Bhand Jashan and others.
• Kudiattam
• Yakshagana
• Bhagavatamela
• Tamasha
• Ramallia
• Rasallia
• Bhavai
• Nautanki
• Jatra
• Chhau
• Laiharaoba
• Therukoothu
• Theyyam
• Ankia-nat
• Pandvani
• Chindu Bhagavata
• Bhand Jashan
• others
Topic 4: Awareness of various musical instruments, costumes and make-up used in these forms.
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Unit III: The Natvasastra.
Topic 1: Knowledge of Natvasastra and the concept of Natya and Nritta.
Topic 2: Study of chapters relating to the eleven aspects (ekadash sangraha) such as, Abhinayas, Dharmis, Vrittis, Pravrittis and Aatodyas.
• Abhinayas
• Dharmis
• Vrittis
• Pravrittis
• Aatodyas
Topic 3: Samanya and Chitrabhinayas and their classification.
• Samanya
• Chitrabhinayas
Topic 4: Dasarupakas.
Topic 5: Natyagruha (Playhouse) and Ranga – Construction, types and different elements.
Topic 6: Poorvarangavidhi and Stage conventions viz. Kakshya vibhag etc.
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Unit IV: Art and Aesthetics.
Topic 1: ‘Rasasutra’ of Bharata.
Topic 2: Elaboration of the theory of Rasa by commentators like Bhattalollata, Sri Sankuka, Bhattanayaka and Abhinavagupta.
• Bhattalollata
• Sri Sankuka
• Bhattanayaka
• Abhinavagupta
Topic 3: Rasa and its constituent elements, viz., Sthayi, Sanchari and Sativika bhavas and their corresponding Vibhavas and Anubhavas.
• Sthayi
• Sanchari
• Sativika bhavas
• Vibhavas
• Anubhavas
Topic 4: Definition, purpose and elements of Art.
Topic 5: A brief introduction to Performance studies and significant western theories on Art : ‘Art as Imitation/Catharsis’, ‘as Imagination’, ‘as Beauty’, ‘as Communication’ and ‘as Utility’ put forth by various Philosophers.
• ‘Art as Imitation/Catharsis’
• ‘as Imagination’
• ‘as Beauty’
• ‘as Communication’
• ‘as Utility’
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Unit V: Dance and Theatre forms of East and South Asian Countries.
Topic 1: An overview of dance and theatre forms of East Asian (China, Japan and Korea), South Asian (Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) and South- East Asian (Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Philippines and Laos) countries.
• China
• Japan
• Korea
• Bangladesh
• Pakistan
• Sri Lanka
• Indonesia
• Thailand
• Vietnam
• Cambodia
• Myanmar
• Philippines
• Laos
Topic 2: History and presentation techniques of various popular theatre and dance forms of the above countries.
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DANCE
Unit VI (Dance): Dance in Sanskrit Literature and Treatises.
Topic 1: A brief study of references to dance in the works of Kalidasa, Bhasa, Sudraka and others.
• Kalidasa
• Bhasa
• Sudraka
• others
Topic 2: General understanding of the concepts relating to dance from texts of ancient and medieval period- Natvasastra, Abhinaya Darpana, Sangeeta Ratnakara, Nritta Ratnavali and Nartana Nimaya.
• Natvasastra
• Abhinaya Darpana
• Sangeeta Ratnakara
• Nritta Ratnavali
• Nartana Nimaya
Topic 3: Concepts include Natya, Nritta, Nritya, Lasya, Tandava, Marga, Desi, Baddha, Anibaddha, Narlaki lakshana, Sabha lakshana and the like.
• Natya
• Nritta
• Nritya
• Lasya
• Tandava
• Marga
• Desi
• Baddha
• Anibaddha
• Narlaki lakshana
• Sabha lakshana
Topic 4: Also specific study of the padas, hastas, caris, mandalas and karanas, and anga, upanga and pratyanga movements.
• padas
• hastas
• caris
• mandalas
• karanas
• anga
• upanga
• pratyanga movements
Topic 5: Detailed study of Abhinaya Darpana along with introduction to other region/form specific texts like Hasta Lakshana Deepika, Balarama Bharatam, Abhinaya Chandrika, Srihasta Muktavali and others.
• Hasta Lakshana Deepika
• Balarama Bharatam
• Abhinaya Chandrika
• Srihasta Muktavali
• others
Topic 6: The various categories and typologies of Nayakas and Nayikas and their avasthas according to Bharata’s Natyasastra, Saradatanaya’s Bhavaprakasana, Bhanudatta’s Rasamanjari and Akbar Shah’s Sringaramanjari.
• Bharata’s Natyasastra
• Saradatanaya’s Bhavaprakasana
• Bhanudatta’s Rasamanjari
• Akbar Shah’s Sringaramanjari
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Unit VII (Dance): India Classical Dance.
Topic 1: Origin and history of Indian classical dance.
Topic 2: Evolution, technique, costumes, music, Gurus and pioneers of Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniattam, Odissi and Satiriya.
• Bharatanatyam
• Kathak
• Kathakali
• Kuchipudi
• Manipuri
• Mohiniattam
• Odissi
• Satiriya
Topic 3: General understanding of major Talas of Hindustani and Carnatic music traditions.
Topic 4: A brief study of Composers/Vaggeyakaras and their works including Jayadeva, Narayanateertha, Surdas, Meera Bai, Tulasidas, Vanamalidas, Kshetrayya, Srimanta Shankar Deva, Govindadas, Vidyapati, and others.
• Jayadeva
• Narayanateertha
• Surdas
• Meera Bai
• Tulasidas
• Vanamalidas
• Kshetrayya
• Srimanta Shankar Deva
• Govindadas
• Vidyapati
• others
Topic 5: Study of the role of Rabindranath Tagore, Rukmini Devi Arundale, Vallathole Narayana Menon, Madame Menaka and others in the revival and reconstruction of classical dance.
• Rabindranath Tagore
• Rukmini Devi Arundale
• Vallathole Narayana Menon
• Madame Menaka
• others
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Unit VIII (Dance): Indian Classical Dance in Independent India.
Topic 1: An overview of major Gurus, performers, their works and important institutions in Independent India.
Topic 2: Institutionalization of dance and its effect on form, pedagogy, repertoire etc.
Topic 3: The new wave in Indian dance – Its development through the works of Uday Shanker and Ram Gopal and the later major contemporary artists and their works. (eg. Shantibardhan, Narendra Sharma, Sachin Shanker, Mimalini Sarabhai, Maya Rao, Kumudini Lakhia, Manjusri Chaki Sarkar, Chandralekha, Astad Deboo and others).
• Uday Shanker
• Ram Gopal
• Shantibardhan
• Narendra Sharma
• Sachin Shanker
• Mimalini Sarabhai
• Maya Rao
• Kumudini Lakhia
• Manjusri Chaki Sarkar
• Chandralekha
• Astad Deboo
• others
Topic 4: Indian classical dances in diaspora.
Topic 5: Patronage to Dance- the role of government and private bodies.
Topic 6: Awareness of important dance festivals, awardees and current happenings in dance.
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Unit IX (Dance): Dance Education, Pedagogy and Research.
Topic 1: Dance as part of curriculum in school education and Universities.
Topic 2: Movement Analysis based on kinesthetics and Laban system.
Topic 3: Eminent scholars and their works, who contributed significantly to the knowledge of Indian dance.
Topic 4: Key inroads in dance training and research in India from the 1930’s to the present like applied areas of dance, therapy, cross- cultural training etc.
• applied areas of dance
• therapy
• cross- cultural training
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Unit X (Dance): International dance and interactions.
Topic 1: Study of the history and development of classical ballet in Europe, Russia and America.
• Europe
• Russia
• America
Topic 2: Emergence of Modern Dance in the west and major personalities involved.
Topic 3: Influence of the West on Indian dance in terms of production design.
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DRAMA/THEATRE
Unit VI (Drama/Theatre): Drama and its theories: Indian and Western.
Topic 1: Concept of drama- Indian and Western.
• Indian
• Western
Topic 2: Elements and structure of drama according to Indian and Western Dramaturgy.
• Indian Dramaturgy
• Western Dramaturgy
Topic 3: A brief study of different classifications of Western dramas – Tragedy, comedy, tragic comedy, melodrama and farce.
• Tragedy
• comedy
• tragic comedy
• melodrama
• farce
Topic 4: A brief introduction to various ‘isms’ in relation to drama including realism, naturalism, symbolism, expressionism, absurd and epic.
• realism
• naturalism
• symbolism
• expressionism
• absurd
• epic
Topic 5: Playwrights and their contribution: Sanskrit – Kalidasa, Bhasa, Sudraka, Bhavabhuti, Visakhadutta, Bhattanarayana; Ancient Greek and Roman – Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, Seneca Western – Shakespeare, Moliere, Ibsen, Brecht, Pirandello, Miller, Chekov, Beckett, Ionesco.
• Kalidasa
• Bhasa
• Sudraka
• Bhavabhuti
• Visakhadutta
• Bhattanarayana
• Aeschylus
• Sophocles
• Euripides
• Aristophanes
• Seneca
• Shakespeare
• Moliere
• Ibsen
• Brecht
• Pirandello
• Miller
• Chekov
• Beckett
• Ionesco
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Unit VII (Drama/Theatre): Modern Indian Theatre.
Topic 1: Origin and development of modern Indian theatre with reference to region, state and personalities.
Topic 2: A brief study of new trends in theatre since Independence movement both at national and regional level, such as, IPTA movement, Navanatya movement, Root Theatre movement, Third Theatre, Alternate theatre, Street theatre, Theatre of the Oppressed, Applied theatre, Forum Theatre, Site Specific theatre.
• IPTA movement
• Navanatya movement
• Root Theatre movement
• Third Theatre
• Alternate theatre
• Street theatre
• Theatre of the Oppressed
• Applied theatre
• Forum Theatre
• Site Specific theatre
Topic 3: An overview of major playwrights, directors and other contributing personalities of various regions, whose plays are widely performed at the national level.
Topic 4: Popular Play Houses, Theatre Companies, Institutions and Groups in India and their contribution.
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Unit VIII (Drama/Theatre): Acting and Direction.
(A)
Topic 1: Different schools of acting – Western and Eastern.
1. Early period- Greek, Roman, Elizabethan, Commedia Dell’ arte.
• Greek
• Roman
• Elizabethan
• Commedia Dell’ arte
2. Modern Period – Representational, Stanislavsky, Meyerhold, Brecht, Grotowski.
• Representational
• Stanislavsky
• Meyerhold
• Brecht
• Grotowski
3. Eastern – Sanskrit, Peking Opera, Noh, Kabuki.
• Sanskrit
• Peking Opera
• Noh
• Kabuki
Topic 2: Role of Mime, Voice, Speech, Improvisation and Physical Theatre in actor’s training.
• Mime
• Voice
• Speech
• Improvisation
• Physical Theatre
(B)
Topic 3: Different directorial innovations and methods.
Topic 4: Role of director in Theatre.
Topic 5: Fundamentals of play direction: Balance, emphasis, composition, picturisation, movement, tempo and rhythm.
• Balance
• emphasis
• composition
• picturisation
• movement
• tempo
• rhythm
Topic 6: Process of production: Script to performance.
(C)
Topic 7: Ideas on Production.
1. Realistic : Duke of Sexe Meiningen, Stanislavsky, Elia Kazan, Antione.
• Duke of Sexe Meiningen
• Stanislavsky
• Elia Kazan
• Antione
2. Non-realistic : Brecht, Meyerhold, Peter Brook, Augusto Boal.
• Brecht
• Meyerhold
• Peter Brook
• Augusto Boal
Topic 8: Impact of above ideas on post independent Indian Theatre movements.
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Unit IX (Drama/Theatre): Theatre Design and techniques.
(A)
Topic 1: Theatre architecture: Greek, Roman, Elizabethan, Thrust Stage, Proscenium, Arena, Open Stage.
• Greek
• Roman
• Elizabethan
• Thrust Stage
• Proscenium
• Arena
• Open Stage
Topic 2: Sanskrit : Vikrishta – Madhyam Natyagruha.
Topic 3: Chinese, Japanese play houses of classical era.
• Chinese
• Japanese
(B)
Topic 4: Stage craft: Fundamentals and functions of sets, lights, costumes, make-up, sound, props, other arts and theatre music in terms of various kinds of play production.
• sets
• lights
• costumes
• make-up
• sound
• props
• other arts
• theatre music
Topic 5: Aharya and Nepathya vidhi in classical Indian, Chinese, Japanese and Indian Traditional theatre.
• classical Indian
• Chinese
• Japanese
• Indian Traditional theatre
(C)
Topic 6: Theatre management and organization.
(D)
Topic 7: Children’s theatre, applied theatre, community theatre, theatre in education, theatre of oppressed and feminist theatre.
• Children’s theatre
• applied theatre
• community theatre
• theatre in education
• theatre of oppressed
• feminist theatre
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Unit X (Drama/Theatre): Theatre Education, Pedagogy and Research.
Topic 1: Theatre as part of curriculum from primary education and in University system.
Topic 2: Relevance of traditional theatre training.
Topic 3: Movement analysis based on kinesthetics, Yoga, Theatre Game, Martial Arts, Folk, Puppetry and other forms.
• kinesthetics
• Yoga
• Theatre Game
• Martial Arts
• Folk
• Puppetry
• other forms
Topic 4: Eminent scholars and their works who contributed to the knowledge of Indian Theatre.
Topic 5: Trends in Indian Theatre research and scholarship in India.
Topic 6: Patronization to theatre- major institutions, organizations, Government, corporate, private bodies and personalities after independence.
Topic 7: Awareness of important theatre festivals, Awardees and current affairs in theatre.
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EXAMINATION STRUCTURE
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Paper-II: Subject Specific Examination
- Total Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 200
- Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ)
- Negative Marking: No
- Duration: 3 Hours (Combined with Paper I)
- Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
Additional Notes (if any):
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SYLLABUS SUMMARY
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Total Units: 15
Total Topics: 93
Subject: PERFORMING ARTS – DANCE, DRAMA, THEATRE
Subject Code: 65
Exam Category: UGC-NET Paper-II
Source: Official NTA/UGC Syllabus
Status: As per latest official syllabus