What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear Kathakali? The bright colours, makeup, and elaborate costumes, right? However, that is only the beginning. There is a lot more to Kerala state’s iconic dance-drama of all time, Kathakali. It has a centuries-long legacy of captivating storytelling. Keralites see the art form as the state’s pride as well as the symbol of their cultural heritage, even referring to it as the Suvarna Kala, which means “golden art”.
Kathakali, which translates to "the art of storytelling through movement". It is a combination of the Malayalam words Katha, which means story, and Kali, which means play or performance. Every movement in Kathakali Kerala dance with hands, i.e., mudras, eyes, and facial expressions, carries deep meaning. And the music and costumes also differ according to the characters performed.
The combination of dance, drama, music, expression, and elaborate costumes creates a visually stunning experience that you will remember for a long time. So, as a Keralite, you should know about Kathakali, an integral part of our culture, in detail right from the history, characters, makeup, costumes and more.
The centuries-long history of Kathakali continues to inspire generations to this day. The art form changed over time, from being played in temples, royal courts, and village squares to becoming an internationally recognised classical art form. There are many royal kings and masters who contributed greatly to the development of Kathakali. The story of the birth of Kathakali goes like this:
So, this is the history of Kathakali. It is a deeply spiritual, aesthetically striking, and emotionally stirring representation of Kerala's cultural identity today.
Kathakali is a stunning art form that brings life to our epic stories and characters of ancient epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The way it tells stories is not through words. On the other hand, the whole body conveys the story beautifully through powerful facial expressions, graceful hand gestures (mudras), and soul-stirring music. It is an experience you should have because it stays with you forever, even after the curtains close.
MemoryTrain captures the pure magic you witness on stage in our handcrafted resin Kathakali sculptures. You can bring the characters you see to your living space, which will be a daily reminder of your experience and a piece that celebrates India’s vibrant cultural legacy. One should know what every colour, makeup, and character means to truly understand the depth of the stories. So let's have a closer look.
You know that Kathakali is a greatly visually appealing dance form with colourful and eye-catching costumes, makeup, and various characters. It is enough to keep people looking at it, even if they do not understand. Every colour, pattern, and type of clothes is unique and has different meanings to different characters. It will be interesting to get to know about it. So let’s explore them.
When talking about costumes, they are very unique compared to other prevalent Indian classical dance forms. The performers wear a costume that includes the following:
Because every costume is intricate, the performers can be seen by the audience even from a distance, adding to the visual appeal and enhancing the theatrical effect, signifying the character as heroic, divine, demonic, or spiritual. Makeup and costume are extremely important for the performance. So now we are about to discuss the details about Kathakali makeup.
The makeup in Kathakali is called Chutti (ചുട്ടി). It is symbolic and artistic at the same time. It’s not just the makeup or decoration done; the colours and patterns categorise the different characters:
This colourful and loud makeup with exaggerated eyes, lips, and brows plays a major role in the dramatic storytelling. It enhances the performer’s facial expressions in a way that the complex emotions are conveyed to the audience easily without any words.
The major characters in Kathakali include the following:
Character Type | Appearance | Represents |
---|---|---|
Pacha - പച്ച (Green) | Green face, red lips, ornate crown | Nobility, virtue, divine heroes |
Kathi - കത്തി (Knife) | Red-streaked green base with white nose knobs | Arrogance, evil, anti-heroes |
Chuvanna Thadi – ചുവന്ന താടി (Red Beard) | Red beard, fierce makeup | Demons, villains |
Vella Thadi – വെള്ള താടി (White Beard) | White beard, bright facial features | Divine beings, strength |
Karutha Thadi - കറുത്ത താടി (Black Beard) | Black beard, dark face paint | Forest dwellers, hunters |
Kari - കരി | Black face with red and white highlights | Wicked or demonic female characters |
Minukku - മിനുക്കു | Soft orange/yellow hues, simple features | Women, sages, gentle roles |
Sthree Vesham - സ്ത്രീവേഷം | Performed by men in female makeup and costume | All female roles |
Kathakali is an art form of movements and gestures with distinct meanings for each of them. The dancers take years to master the technique of speaking through gestures (mudras), facial expressions, and making their bodies surrender to the graceful movements they have to present. Based on the Hastha Lakshana Deepika, there are 24 fundamental Kathakali mudras (hand gestures) that can be used in different ways to express meanings:
Pataka (പതാക) – Flag | Ardhapataka (അർദ്ധപതാക) – Half flag | Shikhara (ശിഖരം) – Peak |
Tripataka (ത്രിപതാക) – Three parts of a flag | Kartarimukha (കര്ത്തരീമുഖം) – Scissors face | Kapitha (കപിത്ഥകം) – Elephant apple |
Mayura (മയൂരം) – Peacock | Ardhachandra (അർധചന്ദ്രം) – Half moon | Katakamukha (കടകാമുഖം) – Bracelet opening |
Araala (അരാളം) – Slightly bent | Shukatunda (ശുകതുണ്ഡ) – Parrot’s beak | Suchi (സൂചി) – Needle |
Mushti (മുഷ്ടി) – Fist | Chandrakala (ചന്ദ്രകല) – Digit of the moon | Padmakosha (പദ്മകോശം) – Lotus bud |
Sarpasirsha (സർപ്പശിരസ്സ്) – Snake’s head | Mrigashirsha (മൃഗശീർഷം) – Deer’s head | Simhamukha (സിംഹമുഖം) – Lion’s face |
Langula (ലാംഗുല) – Tail | Solaapadma (സോളപദ്മ) – Bloomed lotus | Chatura (ചതുര) – Square |
Bhramara (ഭ്രമരം) – Bee | Hamsasya (ഹംസാസ്യം) – Swan’s beak | Hamsapaksha (ഹംസപക്ഷം) – Swan’s wing |
These mudras are the foundational vocabulary used in Kathakali's expressive storytelling. Also, Kathakali depicts nine fundamental emotions, including:
It is impressive that the performers, once mastered, can express a world of emotions without any words. Their movements will be perfectly timed and synced with the traditional instruments used, which increases the intensity of the story they present to the audience. The primary instruments of Kathakali music will be discussed now.
In Kathakali, the music and instruments are what make the performance better. The musical style is called Sopana Sangeetham. The style of music is slow and devotional and is performed alongside the dancer performing on stage. The Chenda, Maddalam, Edakka, Chengila, and Ilathalam are the primary instruments that are frequently used. These instruments serve as more than just background music for performances. It interacts with the dancer, highlighting every emotion and the body movements precisely.
The Kathakali artists often begin their training, both physical and spiritual, at a very young age. The years of disciplined practice make them master the complex movements, facial expressions, and eye movements. They need body flexibility, strength, and coordination for the stylised performance. For this reason, Kalaripayattu training is a common component of the physical conditioning of Kathakali performers.
In addition to physical exercises, students participate in vocal training, yoga, and rhythmic footwork. This comprehensive approach develops not only a performer but also a storyteller who has precise control over every gesture.
Renowned Kathakali Institutes:
Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, Kottakkal Sivaraman, and Kalamandalam Gopi are some of our legendary Kathakali performers. They had been and are an integral part of the development of Kathakali and the preservation of our cultural legacy, inspiring aspiring artists and captivating audiences with their skill.
Even though it has always been a male-dominated dance form, there are women Kathakali dancers who broke the stereotype to become famous artists. Kanak Rele, Chavara Parukutty, Haripriya Namboodiri, and Sunanda Nair are some of them.
Here's the comparison table for Kathak vs Kathakali:
Feature | Kathak | Kathakali |
---|---|---|
Origin | North India | Kerala, South India |
Performance Style | Circular spins, rhythmic footwork | Dramatic storytelling with expressive movements |
Music | Hindustani classical music | Sopana Sangeetham, a slow, meditative form |
Costume | Simple, elegant attire | Elaborate, vibrant costumes with symbolic colours |
Gesture & Expression | Subtle hand gestures and facial expressions | Rich, expressive mudras and detailed facial expressions |
Performance Setting | Solo or group performances | Ensemble, often performed in temples or cultural festivals |
Main Themes | Stories of love, devotion, and divine myths | Stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranic legends |
Watching a live Kathakali performance should be on one’s bucket list. To fully enjoy the art form, it is always better to attend them during Kerala’s festival seasons, notably Onam. It is because that’s when performances are at their most vibrant and culturally rich. As part of their yearly celebrations or other special occasions, a number of temples hold Kathakali.
For instance, as part of its yearly celebration, the Chittoor Sree Krishna Swamy Temple in Kochi hosts a six-night Kathakali week. Sreevallabha Temple and Vaikom Mahadeva Temple are two more temples where Kathakali may be performed. Also, there are some venues where you may watch the art form in action: Kerala Kathakali Centre in Kochi and Margi in Thiruvananthapuram. It also offers the opportunity for the audience to watch the makeup preparation.
Kathakali is a multifaceted art form you should never miss. So, when are you going to watch it? Whether you attend a live performance, learn about it or purchase a handcrafted piece, support the art form to ensure that this timeless tradition continues for future generations. Hope MemoryTrain helps you with that. Don’t let our culture fade away, and let it continue through the generations.
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