kathakali Classical Dance in Kerala

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Feature - Kathakali Classical Dance in kerala

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

Kathakali, the classical dance-drama of Kerala, is based on mythological themes. Mythical characters like the Devas, Asuras (the residents of heaven and earth representing good and evil, respectively), apart from some bird and animal characters can be represented only in larger than life, superhuman dimensions. In Kathakali, the make-up creates the superhuman effect

takes nearly three to four hours to complete the make-up which is done in stages, and the duration varies according to the character and complexity of the costume

Theppu is the first stage where the artiste himself applies the basic facial paintings. On this the Chuttikkaran (make-up man) puts the Chutti which forms the second stage of make-up

The Chutti plays a crucial role in differentiating the characters and their personality and has the following basic classification:- Pacha (green), Kathi (knife), Thadi (beard) and Kari (black). To know more about each, see Chuvanna thadi in Kathakali

All the colours used in the make-up are obtained from natural substances and herbs. For example, the red and yellow colours are made by powdering stones like Chaayilyam and Manayola respectively. A mixture of lime and rice flour serves for white. The green colour is produced by mixing Manayola and Neelam (blue). Coconut oil is used as the base for mixing these stone powders. Another stone, Chenchilyam is powdered and applied in order to protect the skin from burns. Kanmashi or Kajal (the black substance) is prepared by burning gingelly oil. Kumkumam or saffron is also used for the make-up. However, now-a-days many of these colour mixing processes have been replaced by easily available material like paper pulp etc

Uduthukettu is the thrid stage in dressing. Stiff tapes of white cloth is wound around the waist, with the help of others and are bound together with another piece of cloth, the Kacha. Ulluvaal, Puramvaal, Pattuvaal etc are the different cloth pieces used for the elaborate bulky skirt of a Kathakali artiste. The anklets, colourful and ornate vests, jewellery and the huge headgear complete the Kathakali costume

The pomp and magnificence of Kathakali is partly due to its d�cor, 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 - The internationally famous Kathakali, which combines features of ballet, opera, mime, masque and pantomime, is the best-known art form of Kerala. This form of dance-drama traditionally presented in temple precincts from dusk to dawn during festivals, demands ten to twelve years of training and regular practice. The theme or Aattakatha (literally dance-story) of the piece shown here is based on an incident from the Mahabharata, the slaying of the demon Keechaka by Bhima when he tried to molest Shairandhri or Panchali. Here the male character is portraying a Kathi vesham. Vesham means make up. In Kathakali, the vesham, which is of five types, represents five kinds of characters. The Kathi vesham (Kathi means knife) is to represent villainous male characters. The other four veshams are Pacha (green) for noble characters, Thadi (beard) and Kari (black) for lower classes, and Minukku (which means prettying up) for women, sages, Brahmins and so on

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 Kalamandalam is the prominent institution imparting Kathakali training in the traditional way