Kathakali
Kathakali, the most popular sacred dance-drama of Kerela is considered as a complete art form as it synthesizes all that is best in the fields of drama, music and dance, to the folk dances which are reflections of the rhythmic impulses of a sensitive people.It is the most refined, scientific and elaborately defined classical dance form of Kerala.Kathakali is an exciting art form which demands not only complete control of the artiste’s body, but also intense sensitivity to emotion so as to be able to render all its nuances through facial expressions and hand gestures.
Kathakali a nearly 300 years old classical dance form had its origin in the courts of the Kings of Kerala. is considered to be evolved form the rudiments of its earlier forms like Kootiyattam, Krshnanattam, Kalarippayattu and Ramanattam. It is not folk, but highly classical. The ideas and stories (Attakathas or the verse text for Kathakali) of Kathakali are selected from the Indian epics and Puranas. The stories are written in a highly Sanskritized verse form in Malayalam the south Indian language .
The costume of Kathakali is elaborate with ornaments and face painted up. Great importance is given to the make-up of Kathakali, which are of five types - Pacha, Kathi, Thadi, Kari and Minukku. The splendor and majestic look of Kathakali is partly due to the costume, which consists of 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 a type rather than a life proportion.
In Kathakali, a stylized sign language known as Mudra is used to depict an idea, a situation or a state of being. A Kathakali actor does not speak. He enacts his ideas through mudras and steps, closely following the verse, which is being sung from the back of the stage. For this he follows a systematic sign language based on Hastalakshana Deepika, a treatise on the language of hand gestures. The vocabulary of the actor is only mudras (hand gestures), abhinaya (facial gestures) and nritya (dance).
Kathakali is traditionally presented in the temple premises after dusk falls and continues all through the night until dawn.. It is heralded by the Kelikottu or the beating of drums in accompaniment of the Chengila which is a bell metal gong. The orchestra consists of two varieties of drums - the maddalam and chenda; the chengila and the ilathalam or cymbals.
A Kathakali performance transports a spectator to an unworldly atmosphere of gods and goddesses, demons, animals and other mythological characters, who are presented in a larger than life format
Kathakali is not simply another form of dancing. Training for professional Kathakali performers begins from an early age. It takes more than seven years of full time rigorous training practice under a meticulous teacher. The training demands physical exercises and separate exercises for eyes, lips, cheeks, mouth and neck It requires lengthy and rigorous training to attain complete control of the body and a sensitivity to emotion. Kerala Kalamandalam at Cheruthuruthy, Shornoor in Thrisur Dist, is the prominent institution imparting Kathakali training in the traditional way.Kerala Kalamandalam is a deemed university for art and culture situtaed in kerala. The Institution was founded by Vallathol Narayana Menon the famous poet from Kerala .For More details on Training in Kathakali log on to
http://www.kalamandalam.org/

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