Critical and Analytical Essays Open Access Jun 2025

Moral Dilemmas and Values of the Middle Class in Mrinal Sen's Films: A Study of Ek Din Pratidin and Kharij

Md. Saddam Hossain

This study examines the moral contradictions and values of the Bengali middle class as portrayed in Mrinal Sen's acclaimed films Ek Din Pratidin (1979) and Kharij (1982). Through critical analysis of Sen's cinematic techniques and narrative choices, this research explores how the filmmaker exposed the hypocrisies, moral ambiguities, and social complicity embedded within middle-class life in post-Independence India. In Ek Din Pratidin, Sen interrogates patriarchal surveillance and the performative nature of middle-class morality through the story of a working woman's delayed return home. Kharij confronts issues of class privilege and structural violence through the tragic death of a child domestic worker. Both films demonstrate Sen's commitment to what this study terms "cinema of ethical interrogation"—a cinematic approach that avoids melodrama while exposing the normalized violence of social hierarchies. Rather than offering moral verdicts, Sen's realism compels audiences toward uncomfortable self-reflection. His unflinching critique reveals how middle-class virtue often masks systematic exclusion and selective empathy, making his work profoundly relevant to contemporary discussions of social justice and moral responsibility in South Asian cinema.

10.63752/pijcace.vol.1.issue.01S.002

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Critical and Analytical Essays Open Access Jun 2025

Bharata Muni as a Microcosm of Cosmic Emanation: Sustaining, Offering and Expanding Nāṭya through Icchā, Jñāna, and Kriyā

Shri Piyal Bhattacharya

This paper examines Bharata Muni through a traditional śāstrika lens, moving beyond historical debates to interpret him as a cosmic principle of performative knowledge (nāṭya-jñāna). Using Sanskrit philological analysis, the study unpacks the name Bharata as bharati-rāti-tanoti (sustains-offers-expands), revealing a microcosmic model of cosmic emanation functioning through icchā (will), jñāna (knowledge), and kriyā (action). The analysis demonstrates how Bharata represents not merely an individual scholar but a community of artists—a sampradāya embodying the dharma of manifesting and offering theatrical knowledge for collective benefit. Drawing from the Nāṭyaśāstra, Abhinavabhāratī, Upanishads, and dharmaśāstra texts, the paper establishes connections between aesthetic theory and spiritual goals, positioning nāṭya as a means to transcend material existence and achieve Self-realization. The study reveals how Bharata's system transforms both performers and spectators through rasa (aesthetic experience), leading from material engagement to spiritual awakening. This interpretation emphasizes nāṭya's role as dharmic practice rather than mere entertainment, offering a framework for understanding Indian performance traditions as vehicles for mokṣa (liberation) through the integration of artistic excellence with spiritual discipline.

10.63752/pijcace.vol.1.issue.01S.001

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Critical and Analytical Essays Open Access Jun 2025

A Comprehensive Analysis of Sarasvatī Kṛtis by Prof. R. Visweswaran

Dr. Uma Kumar

In the Nadīstuti Sūktās of Vedic scriptures, Goddess Sarasvatī emerged as the divine river of consciousness and enlightenment, nourishing the genesis of Vedic Sanskrit civilisation. This study conducts an in-depth analysis of eleven Sarasvatī kṛtis composed by Saṅgīta Chūḍāmaṇi Prof. R. Visweswaran to examine their musical and lyrical intricacies. The research employs systematic musicological analysis to investigate the employment of rāgas ranging from mēḷa, auḍava, vakra, rakti, and Hindustānī classifications, alongside their corresponding tāḷās. Each composition is analysed for its structural elements, including rāga mudrās, svarākṣarās, chiṭṭe svarās, and madhyamakāla sāhityās, while examining the scholarly integration of the Sanskrit and Telugu languages. The study reveals how these compositions beautifully weave together Vedic philosophical concepts with contemporary musical expression, demonstrating Prof. Visweswaran's mastery in creating devotional music that bridges ancient wisdom with modern artistic sensibilities. The findings indicate that these kṛtis serve as vehicles for spiritual contemplation while showcasing sophisticated musical craftsmanship, offering contemporary artists profound scope for both devotional expression and technical exploration in Carnatic music performance.

10.63752/pijcace.vol.1.issue.01S.004

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Critical and Analytical Essays Open Access Jun 2025

The Psychological Background of Colour Symbolism in Sri Lankan Traditional Masks

R.A.N.N.I De Alwis

The Low Country dance tradition of Sri Lanka, centred in the Southern and parts of the Western Province, features three stylistic schools: Matara, Benthara, and Raigama. Central to these traditions are ritual healing ceremonies (shantikarma) and popular folk dramas (Kolam), where masks play a vital role. These masks serve as powerful storytelling tools, generating humour and portraying a wide range of characters, thereby evoking strong emotional responses in audiences. Despite the cultural significance of Sri Lankan traditional masks, there is limited scholarly focus on how their colour symbolism influences psychological engagement and ritual effectiveness. This gap hinders a deeper understanding of how traditional performances impact mental states, emotions, and social cognition. The colours on these masks are not arbitrary; they psychologically stimulate the audience and convey messages about a character’s masculinity, social status, and moral orientation. This study adopts a qualitative methodology, incorporating interviews, observations, and literature reviews. Mask performers involved in shantikarma and Kolam drama were observed over one month, with in-depth interviews conducted over four months. Drawing from psychological theories of colour perception and cultural semiotics, the research highlights how colour choices in mask design are intentionally crafted to influence both performers and spectators. The study reveals that these colours enhance narrative impact and serve therapeutic purposes within ritual contexts. Thus, Sri Lankan masks, a profound element of the nation’s cultural heritage, demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of colour’s psychological effects, enriching both performance art and communal healing practices.

10.63752/pijcace.vol.1.issue.01S.005

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Critical and Analytical Essays Open Access Jun 2025

The Ferocious Consciousness: Spirit Subjugation and the Dissolution of Otherness in the Bhūtaḍāmara Tantra

Swastik Banerjee

This essay investigates the text Bhūtaḍāmara Tantra, examining a philosophical tension: “How does a tantra so deeply embedded in ritual coercion reconcile itself with the language of liberation?” The analysis of this issue is conducted through the central deity, Krodha Bhairava, interpreted as Ferocious Consciousness—an expression of Consciousness that subjugates not only spirits but also the fundamental structure of ‘otherness’ within awareness. An examination of the key practices described in the text, viewed through the lens of Trika doctrine, suggests that an effort is made to establish non-contradiction to non-dual liberation through the fierce realisation of Consciousness.

10.63752/pijcace.vol.1.issue.01S.006

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