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.