Kathakali: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 07:41, 20 June 2006

Kathakali (Malayalam:കഥകളി ) is a form of Indian dance-drama. It originated in the Indian state of Kerala during the 7th century C.E. The Raja of Kottarakara is the earliest exponent of this art. It is considered to be one of the oldest dance forms in India. It is a spectacular combination of drama, dance, music and ritual. Characters with vividly painted faces and elaborate costumes re-enact stories from the Hindu epics, Mahabharatha and Ramayana. Kathakali is featured in the award winning Indo-French-German produced film Vaanaprastham (The Last Dance, 1999), directed by Shaji N. Karun. Kathakali is traditionally performed in the Hindu temple, but nowadays may be seen in theatre performances put on for tourists.

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

Literature (Sahithyam)
Music (Sangeetham)
Painting (Chithram)
Acting (Natyam)
Dance (Nritham)

Kathakali plays

Almost always, the viewer is told or is supposed to have knowledge of the story being enacted before the start of a Kathakali play.

The most popular stories enacted are Nala Charitam (the story of a king betrayed by gods), 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).

Recently, as part of an attempt at popularizing the art, stories from other cultures, such as the story of Mary Magdalene from the Bible, and Shakespeare's King Lear have also been adapted into Kathakali scripts.

Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardees For Kathakali Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardees Kathakali (1956-2005)

Guru Thakazhi Kunju kurup -1956
Thottam Chandu panicker -1958
Thekkinkattil Ramunni Nair -1961
Guru Chengannur Raman pillai -1963
Guru Gopinath -1965
Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair -1967
Kurichi Kunjan panicker -1968
Vazhenkada Kunju Nair -1969
Mankulam Vishnu Nambuthiri -1970
Kudamaloor Karunakaran Nair -1971
Guru M.Madhava panicker -1972
Vellinezhi Nanu Nair -1973
Kavungal Chatunni panicker -1973
Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair -1974
Kavungal Sankaran kutty panicker -1975
Champakkulam Pachu pillai -1983
Mankombu Sivasankara pillai -1985
Kalamandalam Krishnan kutty Pothuval -1986(Chenda)
Kalamandalam Gopi -1987
Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair -1988
Oyoor Kochu Govinda pillai -1989
Chennithala Chellappan pillai -1991
Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair -1993
Kottakkal Krishnan kutty Nair -1996
Madavur Vasudevan Nair -1997
Kottakkal Sivaraman -1998
Nelliyodu Vasudevan Nambuthiri -1999
Sadanam Balakrishnan -2003
Kalamandalam Vasupisharady -2004
Mathur Govindan kutty -2005

Music

The language of the songs used for Kathakali is a mix of Malayalam and Sanskrit. Several poets like Unnayi Warrier have contributed a Kathakali script which is called Kathakali Padam. Each "Padam" is a poem recited in one of the Karnatic music ragas.

Performance

The Kathakali show is usually conducted at night and ends in early morning. The actors will be accompanied by percussionists and singers. The lead singer controls the entire show with rhythmic beats of a special musical instrument.

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 around 8-10 years before the actor can be considered acceptable. Children often start their training at five years old, and the training programme is intensive. In Kathakali, the story is enacted purely by the movements of the hands (called mudras or actions) and by facial expressions and bodily movements. A Kathakali dancer has perfect control over the facial muscles and can express the various emotions ('lasyams') with skill. Dancers also learn to control their eye movements and can achieve extreme movements of their eyes and controlled dysconjugate ("cross-eyed") gaze.

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.

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).

Drummers, singers, make-up artists and costumers complete the ensemble of highly trained specialists, to present a Kathakali performance.

Famous Kathakali actors

KATHAKALI VOCAL

KATHAKALI CHENDA ARTIST

KATHAKALI MADHALAM ARTISTS

Other forms

Kerala Natanam is a new dance form developed and stylised by the illustrious dancer Dr. Guru Gopinath.

Make-up

File:Makeup kathakali.jpg

A kathakali artist adorning make-up

One of the most interesting aspects of Kathakali is its elaborate make-up code. The make-up has five main parts to it namely Pacha, Kathi, Kari, Thaadi, and Minukku (meaning green, knife, black, beard or jaw, and polish). Characters are categorized according to their nature. This determines the colours used in the make-up. The faces of noble male characters, such as virtuous kings, the divine hero Rama, etc., are predominantly green. Characters of high birth who have an evil streak, such as the demon king Ravana, are allotted a similar green make-up, slashed with red marks on the cheeks. Extremely angry or excessively evil characters wear predominantly red make-up and a flowing red beard. Forest dwellers such as hunters are represented with a predominantly black make-up base. Women and ascetics have lustrous, yellowish faces.

The make up is made from various pigments which are ground on a stone and mixed with coconut oil before being applied. Some characters also have their features enhanced, such as an enlarged nose or an elaborate mustache. There are made using paper stuck to the face with rice paste. Dancers place a chilli seed under their lower eyelid before the performance to turn the white of their eyes red.

External links

This dance-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

@@ Line 282: / Line 282: @@
 *[http://bazaarplanet.com/Journal%202004/05_SAsia/02-2_SIndia.htm Photos and Description of a Kathakali Performance]
 *[http://www.kathakali.net/ Kathakali Company's home page]
+*[http://www.indianetzone.com/dances/1/kathakali_dancers.htm. The great artists of kathakali dance]
 [[Category:Kathakali]]