Kathakali

Kathakali is a 500-year-old dance drama and is performed based on the guidelines set by Sage Bharatha’s Natya Sastra. Kathakali originated from Ramanattom and Krishnanattom, the old dance forms of Kerala which still exists. Subsequently, Kottarakara Thampuran the then ruler of Kottarakara, composed several plays on Mahabharata which led to the evolution of Kathakali. It incorporates dance, music, poetry and histrionics and combines thandava which is the energetic and powerful dance of Shiva and lasya which is the gentle graceful dance of Parvathi. The essence of Kathakali is abhinaya that is expression, mainly aharya abhinaya. From the make-up the nature and personality of the character is read out. For make-up and costume there is an established convention. The vesham which is make-up and costume is classified into four categories – thecha vesham whcih is painted make-up, thadi vesham which is bearded make-up, kari vesham which is black make-up and minukku vesham which is polished make-up. Thecha vesham is again sub-divided into pach vesham which is green make-up, representing morally excellent characters and kathi vesham that is knife make-up, representing evil characters. Thaadi vesham which is bearded make-up has three sub-divisions – vella vesham which is white make-up, chuvanna vesham that is red make-up and kari vesham which is black make-up. Each colour represents each character. Men generally play women characters. They enact padams which are dialog sections through mudras that is hand gestures and facial expressions. There are 24 mudras, expressing nine rasas that is emotions – serenity, wonder, kindness, love, valour, fear, contempt, loathing and anger.

Related Topics
Classical Art Forms  
Koodiyattom  
Chakyarkoothu  
Krishnanattam  
Mohiniyattam  
Thullal  
Thiruvathirakali  
Oppana  
Kolkkali  
Duffmuttu  
Chavittunatakam  
Kakarissi Natakam