I do not know when I will forget my first time when I saw a Kerala Kathakali tradition. The vivid colors, the melodramatic music, and the incredible facial expression of the dancers totally made me spellbound. Since not a single word was said as the story was unfolding, I understood that this was not just any dance, it was a fantastic story telling event.
Kathakali is a classical dance drama tradition of India that is the most spectacular. It was formed in Kerala more than 400 years ago and it is a combination of dance, music, acting, and storytelling. The name Kathakali is derived by combining two words in the Malayalam language: katha which means story and kali means performance or play.
The reason behind why Kathakali art form of Kerala is so special is that ancient stories are being narrated using hand gestures, movements and other forms on the face and also through beautiful costumes. The actors do not talk or sing, they use their bodies and faces to show all the emotions and actions, and singers and musicians create the sound scenery.
What Exactly is Kathakali? Understanding the Basics
It happened that the first time I experienced Kathakali, I could not understand what I was looking at. Was it dance? Was it theater? Was it both? I have performed and now talked with artists and I have learned that Kathakali is a dance-drama it is full-fledged performing art which combines multiple factors.
Fundamentally, Kathakalia is performance by movement and expression. Imagine it is a wordless movie, in which the performers employ codicified movements and phrases to tell the story. Their faces are living changing masks that express everybody the emotions that they feel without knowing the language.
The Fascinating History of Kathakali Dance
Nowadays to fully enjoy Kathakali, it is good to know its origin. I was interested in the history of Kathakali dance, so I decided to visit cultural centers and communicate with the masters of the art. What I had found was an interesting story of evolution.
Kathakali did not come out of thin air. It evolved in centuries, taking the components of other older traditional performances in Kerala. These were the most significant and they were:
- Kutiyattam: Ancient Sanskrit theater.
- Krishnanattam: The dance-drama of the life of Lord Krishna.
- Ramanattam: The direct predecessor of Kathakali, dedicated to Ramayana tales.
Kathakali as popular tradition goes, started in the 17 th century. It is said that the Raja of Kottarakkara desired to watch a Krishnanattam performance which was denied to him by the Zamorin of Calicut. To counter this, he came up with his own adaptation of the Ramayana rather than the life of Krishna, which he named Ramanattam. This later on was the origin of Kathakali as it is today.
Also read :- Drums, Gods & Stories: How Music Moves Theyyam Kathakali and Ottanthullal
The Evolution of Kathakali: A Historical Timeline
| Time Period | Development | Key Figures |
|---|---|---|
| 16th-17th Century | Emergence from earlier arts like Krishnanattam and Kutiyattam | Raja of Kottarakkara |
| Late 17th Century | Development as distinct form with expanded story repertoire | Kottayam Thampuran |
| 18th Century | Refinement of style and techniques | Kaplingadu Narayanan Namboothiri |
| Early 20th Century | Revival and systematization of training | Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon, Vallathol Narayana Menon |
| 1930 Onwards | Institutional support through academies | Kerala Kalamandalam |
Kathakali was patronized by the royalties not only in Kottarakkara. The Kottayam royal family of northern Kerala also played a significant role in developing four major plays on the Mahabharata which added to the repertoire of Kathakali outside of the Ramayana.
Kathakali also experienced a decline in the early 20 th century following the loss of royal patronage. Luckily, some enthusiastic artists and patrons such as a poet Vallathol Narayana Menon formed a school like Kerala Kalamandalam in 1930 to retain and nurture this invaluable cultural data of Kerala. Through their efforts, Kathakali continues to exist and succeed in the present-day.
The Amazing Makeup and Costumes of Kathakali
The most notable thing that comes to mind when Kathakali is considered is the fantastic visual display of Kathakali- the amazing makeup and costumes. I was astonished at the sophistication and symbolism of the makeup application process when I was watching the way it is done prior to a show.
Kathakali has a complicated code of makeup that immediately informs the audience about the nature of each of the characters. Make-up artists (and in most cases, older actors themselves) devote hours to making actors look like gods, demons, heroes and villains with natural pigments and rice paste.
The Seven Types of Kathakali Characters (Vesham)
I have observed and talked to artists, which made me realize the seven common character types of Kathakali:
- Pacha (Green) - Heroes and noble heroes such as kings and gods. They have faces that are predominantly green and they depict goodness, virtue and divine nature. Such characters as Lord Krishna and Lord Rama are represented as Pacha.
- Kathi (Knife) - These are big but imperfect characters and tend to have both good and bad side to them. They are identified through the pattern of the knife on their cheeks and the red dot on their nose.
- Red Beard (Chuvanna Thadi) - Hatshepsut truly evil characters such as demons and villains. They are predominantly red on the face, with black and white patterns and their beard is red.
- Vella Thadi (White beard) - Mysterious and powerful characters and again like Hanuman the god of monkeys. They have white beards and characteristic make-up.
- Karutha Thadi (Black Beard)- Hunter characters and other forest inhabitants. These are lesser villainous characters.
- Kari (Black) - Evil women, demons. They are black with red and white designs upon their faces.
- Minukku (Radiant) - Women, sages, and messengers are gentle characters. Their make-up is more natural and the faces are yellow or light orange, which symbolize the spiritual aspects.
The Music and Instruments of Kathakali
The description of the traditional art of Kerala would be incomplete without the discussion of its music Kathakali. The aural setting of a Kathakali performance is as unique as the visual aspects are.
The Kathakali music is based on the style of Sopana Sangeetham which started in Kerala. It is not like any other Indian classical music, since it is intended to be employed in telling stories and dramatic presentation.
There are two principal singers who give the vocal narrative. The lead singer is referred to as the Ponnani and the supporting singer is referred to as the Shinkidi or Shankidi. The actors mimic the actions with them singing the story. What is interesting is that the singers perform songs in Sanskritized version of Malayalam, which is translated by the actors into gestures and expressions which may be understood by everyone.
The instrumental music derives of a special order of percussion instruments:
- Chenda: This is a loud, cylindric drum, which is played with sticks and it presents energetic and powerful rhythms.
- Madhalam: A barrel drum that is played in pairs and is able to give deeper tones.
- Edaka: An adjustable pitch drum that was used when doing softer, more melodic passages.
- Chengila: A metal gong which is used to maintain the fundamental rhythm.
- Ilathalam: Small cymbals which add glittering effects.
The Chenda drum was so strong that at a performance I attended in Kochi I felt the energy of the chenda drum in my chest! The drummer informed me later that the instruments are not only accompaniment, but partners in the telling, and they add to the atmosphere and highlight the actions of the actors.
Becoming a Kathakali Artist: The Incredible Training Journey
My encounter with the young Kathakali students at Kerala Kalamandalam taught me to admire their level of dedication. Training on how to be a Kathakali dancer is one of the most strenuous in the performing arts world.
In a gurukula system, students would enter the system between the ages of 7-14 and stay and train with their teacher (asan). Although contemporary training has been somehow less intense, it still involves colossal involvement.
The training includes:
- Body massage and exercises: These are massages given to the students on regular basis to ensure that the body becomes flexible and strong.
- Eye training: Performing at high speed eye movements to achieve expressiveness.
- Practicing facial expression: Learning to move all the parts of the face separately.
- Mudra training: Learning 24 basic hand gestures and combinations.
- Dance skills: The acquiring of the fancy movements with feet and body.
- Martial arts association: Numerous moves are imported out of the ancient martial art of Kerala known as the Kalaripayattu.
On average, a full-time student consumes 8-10 years training before he or she is fruitful enough to play significant roles on stage. The teachers can produce not only dancers, as one teacher explained to me, but also storytellers with the ability to make ancient wisdom come alive.
Kathakali was a male-only dance in the past with males portraying female characters. Women have become today the performers of Kathakali, albeit in a minor number. I was lucky to get to see a female Kathakali dancer who explained how difficult it was to become a part of the traditionally male dominated sphere, but how great it was to animate female characters with understanding.
Why Kathakali Matters: Cultural Significance and Modern Adaptations
I have also learned more about Kathakali and now I realize the deeper meaning of Kathakali other than a form of entertainment. Kathakali is the identity of the Kerala cultural heritage and it is a form of living resource of ancient narrations and values.
Over the centuries when majority of the populace was illiterate, Kathakali played a role of entertainment and moral education where the epics of the Hindu religion were enacted where moral dilemma and ethical issues were raised. As one researcher informed me, Kathakali was the cinema of the ancient Kerala it opened philosophical concepts to all people.
Kathakali also develops today preserving its traditional values. Even Christian themes have been adapted into plays in contemporary troupes and Shakespeare is again flexible with its stories. The Kala Chethena Kathakali Company has been very innovative and has taken Kathakali to the international audience and modified the techniques to narrate new stories.
Nevertheless, the main thing in Kathakali is that it still has its roots in tradition. According to Kalamandalam Barbara Vijayakumar, the first woman in the world to be a chutti (makeup) artist, we cherish the old art form and discover new methods of presenting this beautiful art to the people of the world today.
Conclusion: A Tradition that has to be Kept.
Kathakali has been my best experience as I explored the world of Kerala. What used to be mere idle interest has reached the stages of admiration of this sophisticated, beautiful art form and the artists who devote their lives to it.
Kathakali tradition in Kerala is not merely a dance or a theater, it is an entire story telling system, which encompasses eyes, ears and imagination. Their colorful imagery, dramatic articulations, and vibrant music provides an experience that can be remembered even after the concert is over.
More to the point, Kathakali is a living tradition that does not stop its development and remembers about its history. According to one of the senior artists I interviewed, it is the role of the generation to ensure that they maintain our heritage but make it applicable to them.
Kerala Kathakali Tradition Frequently Asked Questions.
How old is Kathakali?
Kathakali is approximately 400 years old and it started in the 17 th century. It evolved out of the predecessor performance traditions such as Krishnanattam and Kutiyattam.
How come Kathakali dancers have such an elaborate makeup?
The costume (known as vesham) recognizes the types of characters and their ethical character. The audience immediately understands who is the good or bad, god or devil based on the colors and patterns used.
Do Kathakali actors or singers talk?
No, the actors are silent. Layers use facial expression and hand gestures (mudras) to retell the story even though the narrative and dialogue are being sung by singers.
What is the duration of becoming Kathakali performer?
Conventional training requires 8-10 years of rigorous training. Students usually enter in at a tender age and are subjected to tough physical training in order to master the strenuous techniques.
Can women perform Kathakali?
In the beginning, roles used to be entirely male. Women are studying and nowadays performing Kathakali more but the field is still dominated by male performers.
What is the best location of Kathakali in Kerala?
The primary cultural institutions such as Kerala Kalamandalam in Cheruthuruthy, Kathakali performances in cultural centres of Kochi and the institutions such as PSV Natyasangham in Kottakkal provide genuine experiences.
