THE RASA DESIGN CHALLENGE: FROM EMOTION TO EXPERIENCE

The Rasa Design Challenge

Topic: Aesthetic Principles: Rasa, Bhava, Alankara and their Application to Visual and Narrative Design

Duration: 60–90 minutes
Class Type: Interactive Group Activity
Group Size: 3–4 students per group 

Activity Title: From Emotion to Experience

Students become Creative Directors hired to redesign an ordinary story so that the audience experiences a specific Rasa.

Their challenge is not to change the story—but to change how it feels.

 

Step 1 – The Rasa Lottery (10 minutes)

Each group randomly receives one Rasa.

Examples:

Shringara (Love)

Hasya (Humour)

Karuna (Compassion)

Raudra (Anger)

Veera (Heroism)

Bhayanaka (Fear)

Bibhatsa (Disgust)

Adbhuta (Wonder)

Shanta (Peace)

No two groups receive the same Rasa.

 

Step 2 – The Common Story (5 minutes)

Every group receives the exact same story.

Example:

"A student misses the last train home."

OR

"A child finds an old diary."

OR

"Someone receives an unexpected phone call."

The story remains unchanged.

Only the emotional experience changes.

 

Step 3 – Build the Emotional Blueprint (20 minutes)

Each group fills the following chart.

Element	Group Response
Assigned Rasa
Dominant Bhava
Supporting Bhavas
Target Audience Emotion
Visual Style
Colour Palette
Lighting
Camera Angles
Background Music
Dialogue Style
Costume
Setting

Students discover that every design decision contributes to emotional impact.

 

Step 4 – Add Alankara (15 minutes)

Groups now enrich the narrative using at least three Alankaras.

Possible examples:

Upama (Simile): "The rain fell like tears."

 Rupaka (Metaphor) "The station became a prison."

Anuprasa (Alliteration) "Silent streets swallowed sounds."

Atishayokti (Hyperbole) "He waited for a thousand years."

Personification: "The lonely bench welcomed him."

Students decide where these literary devices naturally fit within dialogue, narration or visuals.

 

Step 5 – Design the Scene (20 minutes)

Groups create ONE of the following:

Option A

Movie Poster

Include

·       Title

·       Tagline

·       Colour scheme

·       Character expressions

·       Background

·       Typography

 

Option B

Storyboard

Draw six simple frames.

Each frame shows

·       Camera angle

·       Character emotion

·       Colour

·       Mood

 

Option C

Instagram Carousel

Create six slides explaining

·       Story

·       Emotion

·       Visual language

·       Final audience feeling

 

Step 6 – Silent Gallery Walk

·       Every group displays its work.

·       Students silently walk around.

·       Each visitor writes directly on a feedback sheet.

They answer:

·       Which Rasa do you experience first?

·       Which visual element creates that emotion?

·       Which Alankara is most effective?

 

Final Twist - After everyone has guessed the Rasas,

Each group reveals

·       their assigned Rasa

·       chosen Bhava

·       Alankaras used

If classmates correctly identify the intended emotion, the design succeeds.

 

Reflection Discussion

Students answer:

·       Which design element influenced your emotions the most?

·       Could the same story produce different emotions?

·       Which Rasa was easiest to create visually?

·       Which was hardest?

·       How do films manipulate Rasa using colour and music?

·       How do advertisements use Bhava without telling long stories?

 

FOR STUDENTS REFERENCE

 

1. The Nine Rasas (Navarasa)

Rasa (Aesthetic Emotion)	Meaning	Example
Shringara	Love, Beauty, Romance	A romantic reunion or celebration of beauty
Hasya	Humour, Joy	A funny misunderstanding or comic scene
Karuna	Compassion, Sadness	Loss, sacrifice, or emotional farewell
Raudra	Anger, Fury	A protest, confrontation, or injustice
Veera	Courage, Heroism	Saving someone or standing up for truth
Bhayanaka	Fear, Terror	A suspenseful or horror scene
Bibhatsa	Disgust	Pollution, corruption, or unethical behaviour
Adbhuta	Wonder, Amazement	A magical discovery or scientific breakthrough
Shanta	Peace, Tranquillity	Meditation, nature, or harmony

 

2. Common Bhavas (Emotions Expressed by Characters)

These are the emotions shown by the characters that help create the Rasa.

Bhava	Meaning
Rati	Love, Affection
Hasa	Laughter
Shoka	Sorrow
Krodha	Anger
Utsaha	Enthusiasm, Courage
Bhaya	Fear
Jugupsa	Disgust
Vismaya	Surprise, Wonder
Shama	Calmness, Serenity

 

3. Common Alankaras (Figures of Speech)

Alankara	Meaning	Example
Upama (Simile)	Comparison using "like" or "as"	"Her smile was like the sun."
Rupaka (Metaphor)	Direct comparison	"Time is a thief."
Anuprasa (Alliteration)	Repetition of the same sound	"Wild winds whispered."
Yamaka	Repetition of the same word with different meanings	Wordplay using repeated words
Atishayokti (Hyperbole)	Deliberate exaggeration	"I've told you a thousand times."
Utpreksha	Imaginative comparison or possibility	"The clouds seemed eager to embrace the hills."
Personification	Giving human qualities to non-human things	"The wind danced through the trees."
Shlesha (Pun)	A word with two or more meanings	A humorous or clever double meaning

 

 

FOR EDUCATORS

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the activity, students will be able to:

·       Differentiate between Rasa, Bhava, and Alankara

·       Understand how emotions are intentionally created in visual and narrative media

·       Apply Indian aesthetic principles to contemporary storytelling

·       Critically evaluate design choices in films, advertisements, social media content, comics and posters

 

Why This Activity Works for Media Students

Instead of memorizing definitions, students experience how Indian aesthetic theory functions as a design framework. They discover that changing colour, composition, typography, lighting, dialogue, pacing, and symbolism can transform the same narrative into entirely different emotional experiences. This mirrors the work of filmmakers, advertisers, graphic designers, animators, and digital storytellers, demonstrating how the classical concepts of Rasa, Bhava, and Alankara remain highly relevant in contemporary visual communication and narrative design.

RASA, BHAVA, ALANKARA - IKS IN COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA - NEP

 

Imagine you are watching a movie.

The actor cries, the background music becomes soft, and it starts raining. You begin to feel emotional.

How did that happen?

Bhava

Bhava is the emotion shown by the character.

It is what the actor expresses through facial expressions, body language, voice, and actions.

Example: A child cries after losing a pet. The child's sadness is the Bhava.

 

Rasa

Rasa is the emotion felt by the audience after watching the scene.

The filmmaker wants you to experience a particular feeling.

Example: After watching the crying child, you also feel sympathy and sadness. This feeling is the Karuna Rasa.

Remember:
Bhava = What the character expresses
Rasa = What the audience experiences

 

Alankara

Alankara means "ornament" or "decoration" in language.

It makes a story, dialogue, or description more interesting, beautiful, and impactful.

Example:
Instead of saying:

"It was raining."

You could say:

"The sky cried along with the child."

This is Personification, an Alankara, because the sky is given a human emotion.

 

Another example:

"She smiled like the morning sun."

This is Upama (Simile) because it compares a smile to the sun using the word "like."

 

 

A Complete Example

Story

A student fails an important exam.

Bhava - The student looks disappointed, cries, and sits quietly.

Rasa - The audience feels sympathy for the student.

Rasa: Karuna (Compassion/Sadness)

Alankara - Instead of saying: "He was very sad."

Say: "His dreams shattered like glass." (Upama – Simile)

or

"Hope quietly walked out of the room." (Personification)

These expressions make the story more powerful and emotional.

 

Easy Formula to Remember

Concept	Simple Meaning	Question to Ask
Bhava	Emotion shown by the character	What is the character feeling?
Rasa	Emotion felt by the audience	What should the audience feel?
Alankara	A creative way of expressing the idea	How can I make the story more beautiful and memorable?

 

 

Bhava is expressed by the character, Rasa is experienced by the audience, and Alankara makes the story beautiful and impactful.

The Ethical Media Sabha: Class Activity - IKS

 

The Ethical Media Sabha

Topic: Philosophical Foundations of Indian Thought Systems – Nyaya, Sankhya, Vedanta, Buddhism, Jainism, and the Concepts of Dharma, Satya, Ahimsa in Ethical Journalism and Responsible Media

Duration: 90–120 minutes
Class Type: Individual + Group Discussion

Activity Title: The Editors' Council: Wisdom from Ancient India

 

·       Students imagine they are the Editorial Board of a leading national news organisation.

·       A controversial news story has just broken.

·       Different editorial members believe the story should be handled according to different Indian philosophies.

·       Their challenge is to convince the Editorial Board why their philosophy offers the most ethical solution.

 

Step 1 – Form Editorial Councils (10 minutes)

Divide the class into five groups.

Assign one philosophy to each group.

Group 1- Nyaya

Group 2 - Sankhya

Group 3 - Vedanta

Group 4 - Buddhism

Group 5 - Jainism

Each group becomes the official "Editorial Ethics Committee" representing that philosophy.

 

Step 2 – Research and Understand (20 minutes)

Each group researches and prepares answers to the following:

1. Core Beliefs - What are the major ideas of your philosophy?

2. Truth: How does your philosophy define truth?

3. Decision Making: How are right and wrong decided?

4. Media Ethics: If your philosophy owned a newspaper or news channel...

·       How would it report news?

·       What would it avoid?

·       What values would guide reporting?

Students should prepare a 3-4 minute editorial presentation.

 

Step 3 – Breaking News Challenge (25 minutes)

Ethical media dilemma: A celebrity is involved in a major accident. Unverified videos are already viral on social media. Other news channels are broadcasting them without confirmation.

Each group (philosophy) must answer:

·       Should the news be aired immediately?

·       Should journalists verify first?

·       Should the videos be shown?

·       Is public curiosity more important than privacy?

·       What should be the headline?

 

Step 4 – Editorial Meeting (30 minutes)

Each group presents as if attending a national editorial meeting.

Presentation format:

·       Philosophy

·       Explain your philosophy briefly.

 

Editorial Decision

·       Should the story be published?

·       Why?

 

Ethical Justification

·       How does your philosophy support your decision?

 

Newsroom Rule: Create ONE newsroom rule inspired by your philosophy.

Example: "Truth before speed."

or

"No story should cause unnecessary harm."

 

Step 5 – Dharma, Satya and Ahimsa Challenge (20 minutes)

Now all philosophies are mixed.

Teacher writes three values on the board:

·       Dharma

·       Satya

·       Ahimsa

 

Students discuss:

Question 1: Which value is most difficult for modern journalism?

 

Question 2:

·       Can journalists always tell the truth?

·       What if truth harms someone?

 

Question 3: Can media be truthful without being harmful?

 

Question 4: Should ratings ever be more important than Dharma?

 

Each group must reach a common conclusion.

 

Final Twist

Question: Imagine you are the Editor-in-Chief. Which philosophy would you combine with another to create the ideal ethical newsroom?"

Students must justify their answer.

Examples:

·       Nyaya + Buddhism

·       Vedanta + Jainism

·       Sankhya + Dharma

·       Buddhism + Satya

There is no single correct answer.

 

Reflection (Individual)

Students write a short response (150–200 words):

Complete the sentence:

"If I were a journalist, the philosophy that would guide my work is __________ because __________."

 

 

 

FOR EDUCATORS:

Philosophy	Lesson for Journalists
Nyaya	Verify facts using logic and evidence before publishing.
Sankhya	Separate facts from opinions and emotions.
Vedanta	Recognize the interconnectedness of society and report responsibly.
Buddhism	Avoid sensationalism and reduce suffering through mindful reporting.
Jainism	Respect multiple viewpoints and practice non-violence in communication.

 

Suggested Assessment Rubric (20 Marks)

Criteria	Marks
Understanding of assigned philosophy	5
Application to media ethics	5
Participation in discussion	4
Ethical reasoning and justification	4
Reflection and originality	2

Total: 20 Marks

 

Learning Outcomes: By the end of the activity, students will be able to:

·       Explain the key principles of Nyaya, Sankhya, Vedanta, Buddhism, and Jainism.

·       Differentiate between the philosophies and their approaches to truth and ethics.

·       Apply the concepts of Dharma, Satya, and Ahimsa to contemporary media situations.

·       Evaluate journalistic decisions using Indian philosophical perspectives.

·       Develop ethical reasoning and communication skills.

 

Why This Activity Works

·       Connects ancient Indian philosophies with contemporary media practice.

·       Encourages critical thinking instead of memorization.

·       Develops ethical decision-making through realistic newsroom scenarios.

·       Requires no special materials or props.

·       Promotes collaboration, respectful debate, and reflective learning while helping students see how concepts such as Dharma, Satya, and Ahimsa can inform responsible journalism in today's digital media environment.

·       Philosophical foundations of Indian thought systems Nyaya, Sankhya, Vedanta, Buddhism, Jainism. Concepts of Dharma, Satya, Ahimsa and their relevance to ethical journalism and responsible media.