A Simple Guide to Kathakali

Kathakali is an ancient art of storytelling expressed through dance-drama that originated in Kerala, a state in South India. Blending music, theater, ritual, and movement, it is renowned for its elaborate costumes, striking makeup, intricate gestures, and expressive facial language. Passed down through generations, this living tradition brings to life epic tales from Hindu mythology, offering audiences one of the world’s most captivating forms of performance. Imagine a live comic book: bright makeup, huge costumes, music, drums, singing, and powerful gestures all come together to tell stories. The stories are mostly from India’s great epics, the Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa, which are like the “superhero sagas” of ancient India. Kathakali is epic storytelling brought to life through color, rhythm, and expression—a living link to India’s cultural heritage that still feels fresh and electrifying today.

Why is it Special?

• Epic Storytelling: Heroes, villains, gods, demons, love, betrayal, war—everything is larger than life.
• Visual Feast: Elaborate face paint, giant headdresses, and ornate costumes.
• Total Theatre: Combines acting, dance, music, and ritual.
• Centuries Old: Developed around the 1600s, performed outdoors at night by oil-lamp light.

The Building Blocks

1. Makeup & Costumes

Each character’s role is revealed by their face paint and costume colors:

• Green Faces (Pacha) → noble heroes, gods.
• Red & Black Faces → villains, demons.
• Yellow Faces → women and saints.
• Beards (White/Red/Black) → symbolize character type (holy, evil, wild).
• The costumes are layered, with wide skirts, ornate jewelry, and crowns that can weigh more than a small child!

2. Expressions & Gestures

• Kathakali uses a highly developed system of:
• Facial expressions (called navarasas, or “nine emotions”)—anger, fear, love, peace, etc.
• Hand gestures (mudras)—a silent language with hundreds of signs.
• Together, they allow actors to “speak” entire stories without words.

3. Music & Drumming

• The actors don’t speak; singers narrate the story in Malayalam (Kerala’s language).
• Drums and cymbals provide rhythm and emotional power—sometimes soft and haunting, sometimes thunderous.

What to Expect in a Performance

• Slow build-up: The pace is deliberate. A single battle or meeting can last an hour!
• Otherworldly atmosphere: Drums, chants, and oil lamps create a ritual space.
• Surprises: Comic side characters, sudden bursts of energy, or an emotional close-up.
• It’s a mix of opera, ballet, martial arts, and ritual—yet entirely its own thing.

How to Watch if You’re New

• Don’t worry if you don’t understand every gesture. Let the rhythm, color, and energy wash over you.
• Focus on the faces. The actors train for years to move every muscle with precision.
• Notice the drums. They are as important as the actors in shaping the drama.
• Remember it’s mythic. The stories are timeless—love, rage, revenge, compassion—things we all know.

Fun Facts

• Training starts young, often at age 10, and includes yoga, martial arts, and even eye exercises.
• A Kathakali performance can last all night long in its traditional form. (our three performances will be of 90 minutes lenght  each)
• The actors must balance heavy costumes and crowns while moving with intense physicality.