Kathakali

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1. KATHAKALI
The classical dance-drama of Kerala
KATHAKALI MUSIC
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7. KATHAKALI
•Kathakali is the classical dance-drama of
Kerala, South India, which dates from the 17th
century and is rooted in Hindu mythology.
Kathakali has a unique combination of
literature, music, painting, acting and dance. In
the following pages we have placed
photographs and videos of Kathakali
performances and songs by famous Kathakali
singers

9. Costumes:
The headgear worn by the various
characters in Kathakali are excellent
specimen of intricate wood carving, an
ancient specialty of the region. Even the
shiny finishing with trinkets take hours of
painstaking labour by expert craftsmen.
Most of the ornaments donning each
character are made in this fashion too.

11. Make-up:
The make-up, called Chutty in the bibliography
of Kathakali, is also an art form in itself. The
colourful faces are the results of hours of
painstaking handiwork by expert artists. Their
work is, by no means subordinate to portrait
painting. The basic materials used for the make
up are very crude items like raw amorphous
Sulphur, Indigo, Rice paste, Lime, Coconut oil
etc.

14. Dance
•
Although dance is an important element in Kathakali,
it is not the main feature. Pure dance sequences are
limited to Kalasams, which punctuate acting
segments. Female characters spontaneously breaking
into "Sari" and "Kummi" dances can be seen in few
dramas. The accent in Kathakali is more on the
Thandava style of dancing than on Lasya style. Hence
the movements are often explosive. Delicate
movements are rare.

17. MUDRAS
•There are 24 Basic Mudras (hand gestures) in the
"Hasthalakshana Deepika", the book of hand gestures,
which Kathakali is followed. There are 'Asamyutha
Mudras' (that is shown using single hand) and
'Samyutha Mudras' (mudras shown in double hands)
in each Basic Mudras, to show different symbols.
Considering all these Mudras and their seperations
there are totally 470 symbols used in Kathakali. (The
details of each Mudra are given down)

19. Flag
(Golden Bangle)
(Parrot's peek)
(The fruit of a tree)Swan's wing)
(Deer's head)
(Needle's sharp point (Beetle)
(Sprout)
(Serpant's head)
Deer's head)
(Scissor's sharp point)

23. Acting
A Kathakali actor uses immense concentration,
skill and physical stamina, gained from training
based on Kalaripayattu, the ancient martial art
of Kerala, to prepare for his demanding role.
Training can often last for 8-10 years. The
training programme is intensive. In Kathakali,
the story is enacted purely by the movements
of the hands (called mudras or hand gestures)
and by facial expressions (rasas) and bodily
movements.

25. The expressions are derived from
Natyasatra (the science of expressions)
and are classified into nine as in most
Indian classical art forms. Dancers also
undergo special practice sessions to learn
control of their eye movements.

29. The main facial expressions of a Kathakali artist
are the 'navarasams' ( 'Navarasas' in anglicised
form )(literal translation: Nine Tastes, but more
loosely translated as nine feelings or
expressions) which are Sringaaram (amour),
Haasyam (ridicule, humour), Bhayam (fear),
Karunam (pathos), Rowdram (anger, wrath),
Veeram (valour), Beebhatsam (disgust),
Adbhutham (wonder, amazement), Saantham
(tranquility, peace). The link at the end of the
page gives more details on Navarasas.

30. A rare collection of Navarasas (facial expressions of nine different moods)
by renowned Kathakali actor Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair

53. http://www.slideshare.net/thankachan.vp
THE END