NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Kathakali

Kathakali (IPA: [kat̪ʰakaɭi], Malayalam:�·ഥ�·ളി , Sanskrit:�·थ�·ळि) is a form of Indian dance-drama. It originated in the Indian state of Kerala during the 17th century. IPA may refer to: The International Phonetic Alphabet or India Pale Ale ... Malayalam ( ) is the language spoken predominantly in the state of Kerala, in southern India. ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... Dance (from French danser, perhaps from Frankish) generally refers to movement used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... , Kerala ( ; Malayalam: à´•àµ‡à´°à´³à´‚; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ...

1 History
2 Etymology
3 Elements of Fine Art
4 Kathakali plays
5 Music
6 Performance
7 Acting
8 Make-up
9 Renowned training centers for Kathakali
10 Other forms
11 Awards for Kathakali artistes
12 Famous Kathakali actors
13 External links
14 See also

History

Kathakali originated from Ramanattom (“Rama”= the hindu god, Sri Rama; “nattom”= enactment”) and Krishnanattom ("Krishna"= the hindu god, Krishna; “nattom”= enactment). History has it that Raja (ruler) of Kottarakkara (a province in Kerala) sculpted Ramanattom when the Zamorin (then ruler of Kozhikode, another province in Kerala) refused to allow a performance of Krishnanattom in the former’s palace. Subsequently, Kottayam Thampuran (ruler of Kottayam, another province in Kerala) composed several plays on Mahabharata thereby making these distinct from stories based on Ramanattom. Thus, Kathakali was born. Kathakali shares a lot of similarities to both Ramanattom and Krishnanattom. But it also incorporated several outside elements, which is thought to have contributed to its popularity. In particular, the increasing use of Malayalam, which is the local language (albeit as a mix of Sanskrit and Malayalam, called Manipravaalam) made it more popular among the masses. During its evolution, Kathakali also imbibed elements from folk and martial arts which existed at the time in Kerala. Characters with vividly painted faces and elaborate costumes re-enact stories from the Hindu epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana. Kathakali is featured in the award-winning Indo-French-German produced film Vaanaprastham. Kathakali has traditionally been performed in Hindu temples, but nowadays it may also be seen in theatres. Kottarakara is a town located in the district of Kollam, formerly known as Quilon, in the Kerala state of India. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... For the film by Peter Brook, see The Mahabharata (1989 film). ... For the television series by Ramanand Sagar, see Ramayan (TV series). ... Vaanaprastham (The Last Dance) (1999) is an Indo-French-German produced feature film, directed by Shaji N. Karun. ...

Etymology

The name Kathakali derives from the Malayalam words "katha" (meaning story) and "kali" (meaning play) Image:Kathakali_scv.jpg

Elements of Fine Art

Kathakali is considered to be a combination of five elements of fine art:

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)

Even though the lyrics/literature would qualify as another independent element called "Sahithyam", it is considered as a component of Geetha, as it plays only a supplementary role to Nritham, Nrithyam and Natyam. Look up expression in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Dance (from French danser, perhaps from Frankish) generally refers to movement used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting. ... Coming into force (also called enforcement or enactment) refers to the date and process by which legislation, or part of legislation, comes to have legal force and effect. ...

Kathakali plays

Traditionally there are 101 classical Kathakali stories. Most of them were initially composed to last a whole night. Nowadays there is increasing popularity for concise versions of every story (lasting 2-4 hours instead of a whole night), which has been made by selecting the most dramatic or popular portions of individual stories. In spite of being a classical art form, Kathakali can be appreciated by novices and connoisseurs. This is because of the frequent use of “Lokadharmi” (or the elaboration of folk elements)which allows novices to gain a foothold when they start watching Kathakali. In contrast “Natyadharmi” (which is based on the Natyasastra-the science of Natya and is the more classical component of the art form) delights the experience of novices and connoisseurs alike. It is good to have an idea of the story being enacted. This will help the spectators to appreciate the “personalization” of characters by individual actors. In fact one of the major attractions for traditional Kathakali connoisseurs is their ability to distinguish and debate on the "personalizations" that each actor brings about in his depiction of the story. Often this is a challenging task as most the characters and stories are derived from Hindu epics, which are memorized for people from that region. Success/ failure of amateur Kathakali artistes is often decided by their sensibility to successfully personalize characters.

The most popular stories enacted are Nala Charitam (a story from the Mahabharata, Duryodhana Vadham (a story from the Mahabharata), Kalyanasowgandhikam (the story of Bhima going to get flowers for Panchali, from the Mahabharata), Keechaka Vadham (another story of Bhima and Panchali, from the Mahabharata), Kiratham (Arjuna and Lord Shiva's fight, from the Mahabharata), Karna Shapadham (another story from Mahabharata). Nala is a character in Hindu mythology. ... For the film by Peter Brook, see The Mahabharata (1989 film). ... In the Hindu epic the Mahabharata, Duryodhana is the eldest son of the blind king Dhritarashtra by Queen Gandhari, the eldest of the one hundred Kaurava brothers, and the chief antagonist of the Pandavas. ... For the film by Peter Brook, see The Mahabharata (1989 film). ... A motif depicting Bheema in the battle ready posture. ... Draupadi. ... For other uses, please see Arjun. ... This article is about the deity Shiva. ...

Recently, as part of an attempt at popularizing the art, stories from other cultures, such as the story of Mary Magdalene from the Bible, Homer's The Iliad, and Shakespeare's King Lear have also been adapted into Kathakali scripts. The penitent Mary Magdalene, a much reproduced composition by Titian. ... This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library. ... Homer (Greek: , ) was an early Greek poet and aoidos (rhapsode) traditionally credited with the composition of the Iliad and the Odyssey. ... The Iliad is, with The Odyssey, one of the two major Greek epic poems traditionally attributed to Homer, a blind Ionian poet. ... Shakespeare redirects here. ... King Lear and the Fool in the Storm by William Dyce (1806-1864) King Lear is generally regarded as one of William Shakespeares greatest tragedies. ...

Music

The language of the songs used for Kathakali is a mix of Malayalam and Sanskrit. called Manipravaalam. Even though the songs are set for “ragas” based on South Indian Classical Music” (Karnatic Music), there is a distinct style of rendition, which is known as the “sopanam” style. The Sopanam style incorporates the moods of temple songs which used to be sung (continues even now at some temples) at the time when Kathakali was born. Malayalam (à´®à´²à´¯à´¾à´³à´‚ ) is the language spoken predominantly in the state of Kerala, in southern India. ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ...

Performance

performance of Kathakali in Kochi

Traditionally, a Kathakali performance is usually conducted at night and ends in early morning. Nowadays it is not difficult to see performances as short as 3 hours. Kathakali is usually performed in front of a Kalivilakku (“kali”= dance; “vilakku”= lamp). Traditionally, the lamp used to provide light when the plays used to be performed inside temples, houses of nobles and palaces. Enactment of a play by actors takes place to the accompaniment of music (geetha) and instruments (vadya). The percussion instruments used are Chenda, Maddalam and Edakka. In addition the singers (usually the lead singer is called “ponnani” and his follower is called “singidi”) use "Chengala" (a round disc made of bell metal, which can be struck with a wooden stick) and "Ilathaalom" (a pair of cymbals). The lead singer in some sense uses the Chengala to conduct the Vadyam and Geetha components, just as a conductor uses his wand in western classical music. A distinguishing characteristic of this art form is that the actors never speak and use hand gestures, expressions and rhythmic dancing instead of dialogue. Image File history File links Kathakali_performance_in_Kochi,_India. ... Image File history File links Kathakali_performance_in_Kochi,_India. ... , Kochi ( ; Malayalam: []); formerly known as Cochin) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. ...

Acting

A Kathakali actor uses immense concentration, skill and physical stamina, gained from training based on Kalaripayattu, the ancient martial art of Kerala, to prepare for his demanding role. Training can often last for 8-10 years. The training programme is intensive. In Kathakali, the story is enacted purely by the movements of the hands (called mudras or hand gestures) and by facial expressions (rasas) and bodily movements. The expressions are derived from Natyasatra (the science of expressions) and are classified into nine as in most Indian classical art forms. Dancers also undergo special practice sessions to learn control of their eye movements. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Hawaiian State Grappling Championships. ...

There are 24 main mudras and numerous other lesser mudras. Each can again can be classified into 'Samaana-mudras'(one mudra symbolizing two entities) or misra-mudras (both the hands are used to show these mudras). The mudras are a form of sign language used to tell the story. Contents // Categories: Stub ...

The main facial expressions of a Kathakali artist are the 'navarasams' ( 'Navarasas' in anglicised form )(literal translation: Nine Tastes, but more loosely translated as nine feelings or expressions) which are Sringaaram (amour), Haasyam (ridicule, humour), Bhayam (fear), Karunam (pathos), Rowdram (anger, wrath), Veeram (valour), Beebhatsam (disgust), Adbhutham (wonder, amazement), Saantham (tranquility, peace). The link at the end of the page gives more details on Navarasas.

Make-up

A Kathakali artist putting on make-up in Kochi, Kerala.

One of the most interesting aspects of Kathakali is its elaborate make-up code. Most often, the make-up can be classified into five basic sets namely Pacha, Kathi, Kari, Thaadi, and Minukku. The differences between these sets are the predominant colors that are applied on the face. Pacha (Pacha=green)has green as the dominant color and is used to portray noble male charcaters who is said to have a mixture of "Satvik" (pious)and "Rajasic" (kingly)nature. Rajasic characters having an evil streak ("tamasic"= evil), such as the demon king Ravana, are portrayed with red as the predominant color in a green background. Excessively evil characters such as demons (totally tamasic) have a predominantly red make-up and a red beard. They are called Chuvanna Thaadi(Red Beard). Tamasic characters such as uncivilized hunters are represented with a predominantly black make-up base and a black beard and are called Kari/ Karutha Thaadi (meaning black beard). Women and ascetics have lustrous, yellowish faces and form the fifth class. In addition there are modifications of the five basic sets described above such as Vella Thaadi (white beard) used to depict Hanuman (the monkey god) and Pazhuppe, which is used for the Sun God. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2112x2816, 2058 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Kathakali Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2112x2816, 2058 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Kathakali Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create... A depiction of Ravana, Hindu rakshasa King of Lanka In Hinduism, Ravana (Devanagari: à¤°à¤¾à¤µà¤£, IAST ; sometimes transliterated Raavana and as Ravan or Revana) is the principal antagonist of the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. ...

The make up is made from various mineral ores and pigments. They are ground on a stone and mixed with coconut oil before being applied on the face. Some characters also have their features enhanced, such as an enlarged nose or an elaborate mustache. There are made using elaborately cut paper which is stuck to the face with a mixture of rice paste and calcium carbonate. Dancers also often place a "chundanga seed" ( variety of eggplant which bears small fruits) under their lower eyelid before the performance to turn the white of their eyes red. In fact the "chundanga" is not really a seed and is prepared by removing the ovaries at the base of the flowers of this plant. The procedure used for preparing these seeds involves the rubbing of a bunch of these in your palm until they become black (starting from a white color) and nearly dehydrated. They often last long enough for a season (of around four months) in this condition.

Renowned training centers for Kathakali

The most popular Kathakali artists have obtained their training from one the the four centers below, which follow the traditional "gurukula" style. Moreover these four centers are the oldest ones with some of them present from pre-independent era of India. Kerala Kalamandalam (located in Cheruthuruthy, near Shoranur, Kerala) PSV Natya Sanghom (located in Kottakal, near Kozhikode, Kerala) Gandhi Seva Sadan Kathakali and Classic Arts Academy (located in Perur, near Palakkad, Kerala) and Unnayi Varier Smaraka Kalanilayam (located in Iringalakuda, near Thrissur, Kerala)

There also several new centers, but they are relatively new compared to these old schools where masters of the art such as Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair (recipient of prestigious Kalidas award) and Keezhpadom Kumaran Nair (recipients of prestigious Padmashree award) and contemporaries trained their disciples.

Margi Kathakali Vidyalayam and Kalabharathi Kathakali Vidyalayam,FACT Kathakali School, RLV Kathakali vidyalayam Trippunitura also conducting Kathakali classes.

KATHAKALI STYLES (Sampradayam) 1, Vettathu Sampradayam 2, Kalladikkodan Sampradyam 3, Kaplingadu Sampradayam.

The latest Sampradyam is Kalluvazhy Sampradayam which is implimented in Kerala kalamandalam,Sadanam and Kottakkal. By selecting attractive attams from the Kaplingadu Sampradayam(styles) and Kalladikkodan Sampradayam and named as Kalluvazhi Sampradayam.Because of this Kalladikkodan Sampradayam is almost vanished.

Other forms

Kerala Natanam is a new dance form developed and stylised by the illustrious dancer Dr. Guru Gopinath. Kerala Natanam is a new style of dancing evolved from Kathakali. ... Natana Kala Nidhi Dr. Guru Gopinath (June 24, 1908 - October 9, 1987). ...

Awards for Kathakali artistes

Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardees Kathakali (1956-2005)

Main article: Awards for Kathakali artistes

Since 1956, the Sangeet Natak Akademi has an award for kathakali (Malayalam:à´•à´¥à´•à´³à´¿ ), a form of Indian dance-drama. ...

Famous Kathakali actors

Main article: Famous Kathakali actors

Kathakali (Malayalam:à´•à´¥à´•à´³à´¿ ) is a form of Indian dance-drama. ...

External links

Mosaic of Indian Classical Arts
Centre for Indian Performance arts and culture
Vedika : Kathakali Video Collection
CyberKerala's Kathakali Page
A writeup on Navarasas
A writeup on Make-up
A writeup on Kathakali Music
Photos and Description of a Kathakali Performance
vimoksha - Indian classical music and dance portal - Information on Indian classical music and various forms of Indian classical dance.
Kathakali Company's home page
The Anger of Achilles or The Kathakali Iliad.
Kathakali photos from famous photographers on Flickr

Contents

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