SUNIL KOTHARI * Excepts from Dr. Sunil Kothari's book *Kuchipudi : Indian Classical Art Dance* (Abhinav Publications, New Delhi, 2001), with the permission of the author and the publisher. ___ Dr. SUNIL KOTHARI, is a renowned dance scholar, author, historian and critic. An awardee of the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi (1995), Gujarat State Sangeet Natak Akademi (1998) and Padma Shri (2001), Dr. Kothari has been a regular contributor to dance criticism. His forthcoming books include New Directions in Indian Dance (Marg, 2002) and Sattriya Dances of India (Abhinav) ___ The traditional concept of *abhinaya* (histrionics) as codified in the *Natyashastra* aims at the evocation of the *rasa* in the spectator, by stimulating in him the latent possibility of aesthetic experience. The *Natyashastra* refers to four *abhinayas*, viz., *angika*, *vachika*, *aharya* and *sattvika*. *Abhinaya*, a synthesis of all these four vehicles, is found in numbers which constitute *nritya* in a Kuchipudi repertoire for solo exposition. In the