KATHAKALI

Presented By:Saveen VermaTarun KumarBatch-C

(The Confluence of Dance, Music, Theatre and Visual Art)

Kathakali is the most well known dance drama from the south Indian state of

Kerala. The word Kathakali literally

means "Story-Play". It is known for its large,

elaborate makeup and costumes.

Elements of Kathakali• Expressions (Natyam, the component with 

emphasis on facial expressions)• Dance (Nritham, the component of dance with 

emphasis on rhythm and movement of hands, legs and body)

• Enactment (Nrithyam, the element of drama with emphasis on "mudras", which are hand gestures)

• Song/vocal accompaniment (Geetha)• Instrument accompaniment (Vadyam

They are• Angika — pertaining to the body and its limbs.• Vachika — relating to the vocal including 

proper pronunciation, modulation of voice accents and percussion

• Satvika — representation of psychic condition• Ahraya — costume, make-up, stage props etc

Techniques

Details of kathakali• Performance is done in front of 

big oil lamp, ie Kalivilakku• Language of the song used for 

kathakali is Manipravalam

•Main instruments played are Chenda, maddalam, chengila, edakka, ilathalam

                                                                     MAKE-UP

• Kathakali make-up is an elaborate process lasting for 3 hours.

• The most elaborate part of the make up is the chutti (a series of white ridges built up from the chin to the either side of the cheek).

• Pacha(Green face)-heroic, kingly and divine type

• Kari (Black-face)-lady-demons (or witches in Indian epic)

• Kathi( knife)-arrogant and ante-hero

• Thadi (beard)- ella Thadi or white beard for superhuman monkeys like Hanuman ; Chu vanna Thadi or red beard for evil characters for evil characters and Karutha Thadi or black beard for the hunter.

• Minukku (lady)- the heroines, servants,etc

• 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.

KATHAKALI MUDRAS

Navaras