Kathakali

This dance-drama form originated in Kerala. It might have originated 400 years back. Formerly this was known as Krishnaattam. This dance developed in the states of Calicut and Kattakar. In this dance-drama only the traditional and mythological stories are presented. Stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata are invariably chosen as the themes for the performance. The traditional dance-drama lasts throught the night.

Stage: This dancedrama is performed on the open stage built outside the village. The stage or the plateform is polished with cowdung and oil lamps are used for lighting.

Costume and Make-up: Costume and make-up have an eminent place in this dance drama. The colours for the make-up and drapery of each and every character is dependent on its nature and role. There are basically four main colours used in this dance viz yellow, green red and black. These colours are extracted from herbs,coonut oil and paste made of rice flour. Mainly green and blue colours represent virtues and red and black represent vice or vicious tendencies. The paste of rice flour is applied and for this, the character has to sit with this coat on its face for long time.

Being very powerful and vigorous this dance is performed by men only. The dancers wear skirts with very wide circumference and jackets with loose sleev. They wear a big headwear or crown made of wood. This crown weighs 10 pounds. The female characters wear orange coloured sarees and white blouse apart fron golden ornaments.

Accompaniment and Presentation: This dance is accompanied by Carnatic music. Unlike other dance forms Ashtapadi is not sung for the Kathakali performance. There are four people a singer, two playing on the mridangams and one playing the Manjira to provide rhythm. Maddalam is played in the horizontal position and Chanda is played in the vertical one.

Presentation: Mostly this dance is performed in group and the traditional, mythological themes are presented effectively. Before the commencement of the performance the dancer starts his footsteps behind a rectangular screen.