A highly stylized classical Indian-Dance Drama renowned for its tremendous unique combination of literature, music, painting, acting and dance is famous Kathakali.
Kathakali is one of the ancient theater forms in the world, which literally means “Story Play”. It is originated in the Sothern Indian state of Kerala, which dates from the17th century. It is a group presentation in which actors do not speak but enact dialogues, sung by singers in the background. It is an ideal play that grabs the visitor’s sight with attractive make-up of characters, their elaborated costumes, painted faces, detailed gestures, well-defined body moments, actors re-enact Hindu mythology, especially stories taken from the two epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
This excellent art is considered as a combination of five elements:
- Expression (Natyam)
- Dance (Nritham)
- Enactment (Nrithyam)
- Song Accomplishment (Geetha)
- Instrumental Accomplishment (Vadyam)
Kathakali actors outshine in the presentation of the most beautiful and most violent scenes with excellent and equal skills. The actors of Kathakali are classified as five main types, distinguished by their colored make-ups. Green color for noble male characters such as virtuous kings, Lord Rama, etc. Green slashed with red marks on the cheeks for heroic, lustful and arrogant characters such as Demon King Ravana. Red is for extremely angry and evil characters. Black is for forest dwellers like hunters. Yellow is for women and ascetics.
The Language used for Kathakali is known as Manipravalam with Sopanam style. And the orchestra used includes two drums known as chenda and maddalam. This is must see exciting show in Kerala, performed in front of lighted oil lamps in traditional theaters which takes you the hoary past of the epics.
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