Kathakali

Kathakali is said to be derived from the words 'katha' meaning 'story' and 'kali' meaning 'play or performance'. Kathakali is one of the most expressive forms of Indian dance-drama. It originated in Kerala over 500 years ago and is considered one of the oldest dance forms. Kathakali is a combination of drama, dance, music and ritual. Kathakali dancers re-enact stories from the Mahabharatha and Ramayana. Their faces are heavily painted and costumes are elaborate.

Nala Charitam (Story of a king betrayed by Gods), Duryodhana Vadham (Story from Mahabharat), Kalyanasowgandhikam (Story of Bhima going to get flowers for Panchali from Mahabharat), Keechaka Vadham (another story of Bhima and Panchali from Mahabharat), Kiratham (Arjuna and Lord Shiva's fight from Mahabharat), Karna Shapadham (another story from Mahabharat), Ramayanam are the most popular stories enacted. Recently, new stories have made an entry, like the story of Mary Magdalen from the Bible, Shakespeare's King Lear etc. The songs used for the Katahkali are a mix of Malayalam and Sanskrit. Poets like Unnayi Warrier have contributed to the Kathakali script which is called "Kathakali Padam". Each "Padam" is a poem recited in one of the Karnatic music ragas.

A Kathakali actor's training may last for around 8-10 years. In Kathakali, the story is enacted out purely by the movements of hands (called 'mudras' or actions) and facial expressions and bodily movements. A kathakali dancer has to have perfect control over the facial muscles. Drummers, singers, make-up artists and costumers complete the ensemble of highly trained specialists.

One of the most interesting aspects of Kathakali is its elaborate make-up code. The make-up has 5 main parts to it namely Pacha, Kathi, Kari, Thaadi, Minukku (green, knife, black, beard or jaw and polish). Characters are categorized according to their nature. This determines the colours used in the make-up. The faces of noble male characters, such as virtuous kings, the divine hero Rama, etc., are predominantly green. Characters of high birth who have an evil streak, such as the demon king Ravana, are allotted a similar green make-up, slashed with red marks on the cheeks. Extremely angry or excessively evil characters wear predominantly red make-up and a flowing red beard. Forest dwellers such as hunters are represented with a predominantly black make-up base. Women and ascetics have lustrous, yellowish faces.

The main facial expressions of a Kathakali artist are the 'navarasams' or Nine Tastes. There are 24 main mudras and numerous other lesser mudras. Almost always, the viewer is told or is supposed to have knowledge of the story being enacted before the start of the play.