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
and to the
accompaniment of
the Chengila (gong).
The riches of a happy
blending of colour,
expressions, music,
drama and dance are
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 décor, 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 meant 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 the
actor follows a
systematic sign
language based on
Hastalakshana
Deepika, a treatise
on the language of
hand gestures.
Kathakali Music
Kathakali 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

The Marvel Called
Kerala …
Wedged between
the Western Ghats
on the East and the
Arabian Sea on the
West, the narrow
strip of land known
as Kerala is a
destination of a
lifetime.
The timeless beauty
of the palm fringed
beaches of Kovalam
and Varkala, the
majesty of the
undulating hills of
Munnar and
Vagamon, the
serenity of the
pristine backwaters
of Kumarakom &
Kuttanad and the
enchanting woods
and forests of
Thekkady and Silent
Valley will have you
bowled over.
That such a small
terrain can hold
diverse geographical
features and
cultures is a wonder
in itself.The following are some cultural arts forms of kerala