CC - I : What is Prastavana in Sanskrit Drama.

 A Prastavana is a formulaic beginning of a Sanskrit drama. Typically, a character who is outside the main action of the play, often identified with the producer of the play takes up the guide of the playwright, comes out on the stage pronounces the mangalik, states what is happening backstage and guides the audience to the beginning of the play. This entire episode comprise the Prastavana. There are often episodes of happy conjugal banter, an introduction to the time and place, some foreshadowing of the incidents to follow and a request for patient hearing from the rasikas as part of the Prastavana. Sometimes, Prastavana were not written by the playwrights themselves, although prominent playwrights like Kalidasa always wrote their own Prastavana

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