Kathakali 2025 Mini Festival – October 15, 16 & 17, 2025. The performances are at 7:30 p.m.
Step into the vibrant world of Kathakali, the classical dance-drama of Kerala, India. Over three evenings, master performers bring to life epic tales from the Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa through vivid makeup, elaborate costumes, powerful movement, and expressive storytelling. Each night offers a different masterpiece—rich in drama, humor, and timeless wisdom—inviting audiences to experience the depth and beauty of this centuries-old tradition.
From India’s Great Stages to Our Intimate Studio: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity to Witness World-Class Kathakali Artists in Rare Close-Up.
We are thrilled to present a Kathakali ensemble of extraordinary talent—actors, singers, percussionists, and the master chutti and costume artists who together embody the full splendor of this centuries-old tradition. The cast includes Kalamandalam Manoj, Kottakkal Harikumar, Jishnu Nambudiripad, Roshni Pillai, Peesappilli Rajeev, and Kalanilayam Sreejith Sundaran, joined by renowned singers Sadanam Jyothish Babu, Kottakkal Madhu, and Jishnu Nambudiripad, with the driving rhythms of Sadanam Jithin, Kalamandalam Sivadas, and Kalamandalam Venu, and the exquisite artistry of Eroor Manoj and Kalanilayam Sreejith Sundaran in chutti and costume. Please read their biographies for more background information.
These artists are among the finest practitioners of Kathakali today. They have performed on some of the world’s great stages—at Kalakshetra in Chennai, in international festivals across Europe and North America, and at major Kathakali gatherings in Kerala, where audiences number in the thousands. Critics have praised their commanding stage presence, remarkable vocal artistry, and the dazzling precision of their storytelling.
To have them here, in the intimate setting of our West Oakland studio, is a rare privilege. Instead of watching from afar, you will be close enough to see the finest details of makeup and costume, hear every nuance of the singers, feel the resonance of the drums, and witness the sheer power of Kathakali at its highest level—an unforgettable experience few outside India ever enjoy.
About Kathakali
Kathakali Dance Drama from Kerala, India is a remarkable amalgam of dance, theater, music, vocal and instrumental, and dates back to the time of Shakespeare. Besides, the colorful facial makeup, awesome head-gears, billowing skirts and glittering ornaments of the Kathakali characters are a visual feast for the spectators, both initiated and uninitiated. The Kathakali plays are composed of the great Indian Epics, the Rāmāyaṇa, and the Mahābhārata. This 17th-century art form epitomizes the cultural and artistic legacy of India.
Learned more about Kathakali through our Kathakali in a Nutshell page