Kathakali Dance in Kerala
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Kathakali - An Introduction
Kathakali is one of the world-renowned dance forms of Kerala. Kathakali literally means, "story-play". Kathakali is some 300 years old but its roots go back almost 1500 years. Kathakali draws from almost every type of formalized dance, drama and martial arts. A number of its elements and choreography have been influenced by the 9th century art of Kuttiyattam, the only surviving form of Sanskrit theatre. Despite the inroads of modern theatre, cinema and television, Kathakali, continues to attract enthusiastic audiences in and outside Kerala. This dance-drama of Kerala has also been able to retain much of its original stylized form, rich in its theatrical traditions and unique values, based on the ancient Natyashastra, a rhetorical work on dramaturgy, which lays down principles governing the art forms of dance and music.
Kathakali scenes are woven around legends and stories from the ancient Hindu epics like the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagvata Purana. Practiced traditionally by men, it is an exacting discipline. People who witness the play are familiar with its stories narrated to them during childhood by their mother and grandmothers. They have also seen the epic heroes and heroines painted on temple walls and carved on pillars.
Kathakali is a unique combination of the insights of an actor, dancer, singer, drummer, sculptor, designer and dreamer. Kathakali is distinguished for the richness of its colour, a complex language of eye-movements and its hand-gestures, the mudras. Kathakali is also the most dynamic dance form unrivalled for its majesty and impact enhanced by glittering costumes of special design.
Kathakali Dancers in Kerala
Four to five hours before the start of the play, the Kathakali dancers subject themselves to an elaborate make-up. This is governed by complex symbolism of line and design. Each Kathakali dancer at first paints his face himself in a manner tailored to the kind or role he plays. Looking into a small mirror, he applies hand-ground colours mixed in coconut oil. Paccha or green stands for noble characters, divine heroes and kings. Red represents valour and ferocity and black savage characters called katti. It takes long to master the art of make-up and students spend many years practicing it, painting on the rounded bottoms of terracotta posts.
Kathakali Performances in Kerala
With many years of such arduous training and dedicated application behind them, Kathakali dancers group themselves into well-knit teams and perform in places such as Varkala, dancing into the small hours of the night. As song and drumbeats fill the air and the earth trembles under their feet, spectators witness episodes that have thrilled people for centuries.
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