Learn the Lingo
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Terms from the world of the arts made easy
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The heroine Bharatanatyam dancer Priyadarshini Govind is the picture of a proud nayika
Dance
Nayika: Literally, the word nayika means ‘leading lady’. It is the term used for the heroine of a Sanskrit play, and a large part of the theory of Sanskrit drama, approach to characterisation, etc., is shared by the theory
and approach of classical dance styles. Indian classical dance styles and the related arts of sculpture painting, poetry and music, thus feature the nayika in innumerable forms.
The nayika (sometimes called nayaki) has distinct characteristics depending on her station in society (such as a queen, a princess, a woman of a noble family or of divine descent) and her personal qualities.
The nayika is commonly described in relation to the nayak (nayaka), or hero, who is her beloved. She may be young and shy, or she may be playful and confident in her behaviour.
She might be married to him, or she might be a clandestine lover. Whatever be the case, her manner of walking, speaking and her reactions to situations will distinguish her character type.
A nayika’s traits or personality also help to classify her in the uttama, madhyama or adhama category.
These are translated as high, middling and low categories and are applied to other character types as well.
If an uttama nayika is distressed, for example, she will show her anguish in a refined way whereas an adhama nayika might be violently angry, cry in a loud way, etc.
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