Uparupaka is a form of Sanskrit theatre. The wider and older term rupaka defines the ten major forms. This is possibly derived from actors assuming the form or rupa of characters. The Natyasastra is silent about uparupakas but mentions one dramatic variety, the natika, distinguishing it from the ten rupakas. Later writers on dramaturgy listed a number of uparupakas. These can be named as natika, trotaka, sattaka, natyarasaka, prasthana, ullapya, kavya, prenkhanaka, rashaka, samlapaka, srigadita, silpaka, vilasika, durmallika, prakarani, hallisa, and bhanika. In medieval rimes Abhinavagupta, Bhojadeva, Hemachandra, and Saradatanaya added dombika, dvipadi, samya, prerana, ramakrida, shidgaka, ragakavya, lasya, tandava, chalika, sampa, mallika, kalpavalli, and parijataka.

It appears that uparupakas existed from ancient times and were enunciated by authorities like Harsha. According to Saradatanaya, it defines the trotaka in a commentary, now lost. However, they developed and were performed in the pre-medieval and medieval periods on a large scale. They were predominantly musical and dance forms, alternatively known as sangitakas. Further research may reveal their exact relationship with the innumerable dance-dramas that evolved all over India, continuing to this day as popular or folk theatre. The uparupakas include medieval plays written in Prakrit, such as sattakas. The pre-medieval and medieval theatre in Prakrit and Apabhramsa may also be understood better by exploring the history and nature of uparupakas as well.

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