Magnificent Dance Form of Kerala

KATHAKALI

Kathakali is one of the magnificent dance form of Kerala.It is basically a " DANCE DRAMA".
It is the elements of Natya take precedence over the Nritta. In this unique classical form of dance , the facial expressions , hand gestures and Aharya ( costumes) are very unique. The make up is the important part of a dancers. Their faces are painted with different colours. In this traditional dance drama the men are not mortals but demons of great strength.
The masks play a central role in the Kathakali performance. Each dancer has to lie down for one to six hours. in their make - up room.
The characters have five main categories with well defined modes of make - up and costumes. The Pacha or green , Kati or Knife , Tadi , Kari or Black and Minakku or Radiant colours are indicating  of the characters of the dance. These are the things which indicates different characters like - Kati  signifies Demon , Kari divinities Pacha noble being and Minakku indicates female characters. Beards get attached to the face. Even little white beard like frames hug the chin or nose or cheeks of the dancer. These white beards are made of fine paper , stuck onto a paste of rice that lives the bones of the cheek.
The dancers perform based on mythology and the epics of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana . This magical art form grew and expanded from strength to strength.
To give the knowledge of this dance form to other people . The great Vallathol Narayana Menon established a wonderful school for training and performing Kathakali in a placed called Shoranur in 1930. This was called the Kalamandalam . The gurus or teacher who teaches this traditional dance form called " ashaans ".
Kathakali uses two main drums they are :

The Chenda and the Maddalam . They are large and heavy which are carried by the musicians tied around the waist. The drumming is a difficult art. The drummer has a long and painful learning period under a strict Guru. There are also two singers on the stage. They hold cymbals in their hands to maintain the beats of the taala. One singer holds the Chengala which is a flat metallic gong and is beaten by a wooden stick. The other singer holds two large cymbals called the " Ilat - Tadam. A stool and a small curtain called a Therashila are the only props required in Kathakali. This curtain is used to bring a new character into the playing field. He hides behind the curtain held by two men and even dances behind it , making strange sounds and calls. Then with the drum rising to a high pitch . One of the men holding the curtain pulls it away from the other. The only light is used in this dance drama comes from a large lamp which is placed in the centre of the area infront of the actors making the art more magical.
Prominent dancers who promote this traditional dance form are :
Raman kutty Nayar , Kala mandalam Krishnan Nair , Gopi and Madhavan Chakyar.

I hope you  love to read our popular classical dance forms. For more information please read my blogs.
Thanks Banani

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