Examine the contemporary relevance of ancient Indian literary works in modern Indian arts. How are artists today drawing inspiration from classical texts? Discuss.

Ancient Indian literary works continue to exert a profound influence on modern Indian art, serving as a reservoir of themes, motifs, and narratives. These texts, which include epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana, and classical poetic works such as Kalidasa’s Shakuntala, provide a rich cultural heritage that contemporary artists tap into, reinterpreting traditional stories to reflect modern sensibilities and issues.

• Theatre and Cinema:Modern adaptations of ancient texts are prevalent in Indian theatre and cinema, where directors use contemporary settings and contexts to reinterpret stories. For example, the film ‘Raavan’ by Mani Ratnam draws inspiration from the Ramayana, exploring the characters and ethical dilemmas of the epic in a modern-day context.
• Visual Arts:Artists like M.F. Husain have re-envisioned characters and episodes from epics in their paintings, using modernist styles to comment on enduring themes of heroism, duty, and morality. Husain’s series on Mahabharata integrates traditional narrative with abstract forms to reflect contemporary conflicts and emotions.
• Literature:Contemporary Indian literature often revisits ancient texts through retellings or new interpretations. For example, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s novel ‘The Palace of Illusions’ gives a voice to Draupadi from the Mahabharata, offering a feminist perspective on the events of the epic.
• Dance and Performance:Classical dance forms like Bharatanatyam and Kathak continue to draw heavily on ancient literary works for their repertoire. Modern dance productions often reinterpret these stories, such as Mallika Sarabhai’s dance drama ‘Sita’s Daughters’, which uses the character of Sita to comment on the status of women in contemporary society.

Thus, ancient Indian literary works remain deeply embedded in the fabric of modern Indian art, providing both a source of inspiration and a medium for cultural discourse. Through various forms of artistic expression, contemporary artists engage with these texts to explore and critique current social, political, and personal themes, thereby ensuring their relevance in the modern era.