Kathakali for Beginners

The state of Kerala (carol-ah) is known for dramatic story telling plays, called Kathakali, that originated there during the late 16th century, between approximately 1555 to 1605 AD. The productions normally go on all night but we were able to see an abridged presentation.








We were invited to observe the application of the makeup, which included affixing large white extensions to the face of one of the actors. The others applied traditional colors: red for evil, green for noble male characters, yellow for female (played by males) and black for a rustic hunter.


Before the actual performance we saw an amazing demonstration of the skill and body control the dancers must learn through years of study. This man was demonstrating the eye movements which help display emotion. He could move his eyes, in time to the drumbeats, in a complete circle or rapidly up and down.













He then demonstrated the elaborate hand movements involved as part of the story telling since none of the characters speak.



Finally the elaborate costumes were put on and the play began, accompanied by drums and bells.
The story was a complicated morality play about an arrow with great powers and how it came into the possession of the character in red. Mostly it was a treat for the eyes and ears.