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Folk Dance of Kerala > Kathakali
Kathakali
Kerala owes its transnational fame to this nearly 300 years old classical
dance form which combines facets of ballet, opera, masque and the pantomime.
It is said to have evolved from other performing arts like Kootiyattam,
Krishnanattam and Kalarippayattu. Kathakali explicates ideas and stories
from the Indian epics and Puranas.
Presented in the temple precincts after dusk falls Kathakali is heralded by
the Kelikottu or the beating of drums in accompaniment of the Chengila
(gong). The riches of a happy blending of colour, expressions, music, drama
and dance is unparallelled in any other art form.
Kathakali Make-up
Costume is elaborate with the face painted up. Great importance is laid on
the Vesham or make-up which are of five types - Pacha, Kathi, Thadi, Kari
and Minukku.
The pomp and magnificence of Kathakali is partly due to its decor part of
which is the kireetam or huge headgear and the kanchukam the over sized
jackets, and a long skirt worn over a thick padding of cushions. The
identity of the actor is completely mutilated to create a super human being
of larger-than-life proportion.
Pacha (Green)
Pacha Vehsam or the green make-up portray noble protagonists.
Kathi (Knife)
Kathi Vesham portrays villainous characters.
Thadi (Beard)
There are three types of bearded or Thadi Veshams.
"Vella Thadi" or White beard for superhuman monkeys like Hanuman.
"Chuvanna Thadi" or Red beard is for evil characters.
"Karutha Thadi" or Black beard for the hunter.
Kari (Black)
Kari Vesham is used for she-demons.
Minukku (Prettying Up)
The "Minukku Vesham" is used for female characters and sages.
Mudra
Mudra is a stylized sign language used to depict an idea, a situation or a
state of being. A Kathakali actor enacts his ideas through mudras. For this
he follows a systematic sign language based on Hastalakshana Deepika, a
treatise on the language of hand gestures.
Kathakali Music
The orchestra is formed of two varieties of drums - the maddalam and chenda;
the chengila which is a bell metal gong and the ilathalam or cymbals.
Kathakali Training
Students of Kathakali have to undergo rigorous training replete with oil
massages and separate exercises for eyes, lips, cheeks, mouth and neck.
Abhinaya or expression is of prime importance as is nritya or dance and
geetham or singing.
Together with highly evocative facial expressions, the mudras and the music
both vocal and instrumental, Kathakali unfolds stories from a bygone era in
a lofty style reminiscent of the Greek plays. Kerala Kalamandalam , is the
prominent institution imparting Kathakali training in the traditional way.
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