Kathakali

About Kathakali:

• Kathakali is a dance style that originated in Kerala.
• This dance style is considered classical.
• The precursors of 'Kathakali' are the dance-dramas 'Krishnanattam' and 'Ramanattam', which are based on the Mahabharata and Ramayana. These theatrical traditions later gave rise to Kathakali, which takes its name from the terms ”Katha" and "Kali," which mean "tale" and "drama," respectively.
• It's also linked to Koodiyattam (a Sanskrit drama tradition) and other historic martial arts shows. It's a fantastic mix of music, dancing, and drama.
• However, as the feudal system disintegrated, Kathakali began to go away as an art form.
• Under the patronage of Mukunda Raja, it was resurrected in the 1930s by the famed Malayali poet V. N. Menon.

Features:

• Kathakali is basically a male-dominated performance.
• In Kathakali recitals, props are used sparingly. For distinct characters, however, more detailed facial make-up and headgear are used.
• Different colors have different meanings:
  • Green is a color associated with nobility, divinity, and virtue.
  • The presence of red patches beside the nose denotes royalty.
  • The color black is used to represent evil and depravity.
  • The color yellow is associated with saints and women.
  • Face painted in red denotes evil.
  • Beings with a white beard have a greater level of consciousness and divinity.
• It combines dance with drama, and the two are closely linked.
• The eternal fight between good and evil is depicted in the majority of Kathakali recitals. It takes its motifs from stories told in epics and Puranas. The 'ballad of the east' is another name for it.
• Manipravalam, a blend of Malayalam and Sanskrit, is the language used in Kathakali songs.
• Kathakali is known for its depiction of the rasas through eyebrow motions, which are used to tell the story.
• The 'Navarasas,' or nine important facial expressions, are taught to indicate various emotions. There are also a lot of hand movements.

Performed in:

• Kathakali is usually performed in open-air theatres on coarse mats or on temple grounds with Kerala's lush green trees as a backdrop. Lighting is provided by a brass lamp.

Music:

• Kathakali music is based on Kerala's traditional sopana sangeet.
• The Ashtapadis are supposed to sing ritually on the flight of steps leading to the sanctum sanctorum.
• Carnatic ragas—the raga and tala—are now used in Kathakali music, with the raga and tala conforming to the bhava, rasa, and dance patterns (nritta and Natya).
• The Chenda, Maddalam, Chengila, Ilathalam, Idakka, and Shankhu make up the orchestra, which is also employed in other traditional Kerala performing arts.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

“It is a dance style that originated in Kerala. It is usually performed in open-air theatres. It combines dance with drama. The color of the main makeup is of particular importance in this dance form, as they symbolize different types of characters.” The classical dance form discussed above is:

(a) Kuchipudi

(b) Kathakali

(c) Mohiniyattam

(d) Kathak

Answer