Kathakali, a male dominated Indian classical dance

By Subashini Pathmanathan

The South Indian dance Kathakali, is a dance form of Kerala. The ordinary masses called Kathakali as Atta kathai, because it is based on stories. It is a story oriented dance. Kathakali is also one of the temple arts based on stories. As in Bharatha Natyam, the divisions of abinaya, such as Angika, Akaariya,Vaachika, and Saathvika Abinyas are maintained.

Kathakali and Bharatha Natyam are deeply rooted in Hindu mythology and devotion, Kathakali originated from Krishna Attam. The king Samuthri

Maana Devan composed dramas based on Krishna's stories, and compiled them under the name of Krishna Aattam.

Maana Devan refused to stage, Krishna Attam, before the Kotta Karak king, and as the king was so brokenhearted, at the refusal of Maana Devan to stage Krishna Attam, in his court, Kotta Karra king himself, produced a dance based on Rama stories, and adopted it to the Kerala stage tradition, and theatre.

It was called Ramar Aattam. Eventually, people staged various dances based on other themes. With the passage of time the name Ramar Aattam disappeared and Kathakali, emerged as a dance form.

Kathakali is based on Hinduism. Even female characters are danced by male dancers and still males play a major role in this classical dance form. Originally, it was danced by the males alone. These dances had their close links with temple tradition, and temple customs. Chakaiyar were the male dancers.

In Kerala, Chakaiyar Koothu, Kudi Aattam, Krishna Attam and Kathakali were the main dance forms.(There is a reference in Silapathikaram about Chakkai Koothu. Koothu means dance )This was performed by the Chakiyar, in the temple premises. The place where Chakiyar performed Chakiyar Koothu was called Koothampalam. Earlier there was another temple dance based on drama form. It was called Kudi Aattam and was performed by a group of male dancers. The Kudi Attam, was performed in the same Koothampalam where the Chakaiyar Koothu was performed. It evolved out of various religious rites.

From the 19th century, the Kerala masses helped and encouraged the development of Kathakali. As other popular Indian classical dance forms Kathakali based its themes on Puranic and Ithikaas stories.

In the mid 20th century dance and drama developed, alongside Bharatha Natyam, but dance drama developed in Kerala as a form of Kathakali, much earlier than in Tamil Nadu. Some of the famous compositions used in Kathakali are those of Raja Kotta Kara, Iryuman Thami, Maharaja Swathi Thirunal and other well known composers.

Hand gestures and facial expressions, are abundant in Kathakali. The male dancers play the female roles, It is predominately a male dance.

The accompaniments in Kathakali performance include singers who sing the verses, which help the dancers to interpret the theme of the selected story. Two drums are known as the Chenda, and Mandalam, along with the cymbals (thala laya instrument, named ela thalam) used. Chenda is a cylindrical drum and another is the horizontally held drum , Mandalam.

Among the accompaniments two singers sing. The style of singing to Kathakali is called sopaanam. The Kathakali orchestra, is unique and provides not only the background music for dancing, but gives an expressive effect to the dancers.

A traditional Kathakali performance begins in the evening and continues throughout the night till early morning. Today, it is modified according to the needs of the urban and foreign audience.

The costumes are very heavy in Kathakali, and the costumes and jewellery are much richer than in other Indian dances, because the make-up and dressing are based on the selective characters of the Kathakali and the theme of the dance drama.

The ornaments are tied over the dresses. Heavy facial make-up is used according to the needs of the characters. The male Kathakali dancers wear the skirt. For the lips bright reddish pink is used with pink powder, ending with a circle. Heavy eye make up is used to decorate the eyes; thick black lines are drawn along with the eyes. Similarly, thick eyebrows are drawn. Different colour facial make-up shades are selected according to the needs of the characters and green colour facial make-up is selected, and beautiful keeredam is worn.

Normally, except for Lord Krishna's, character all the other characters wear red tops. For Lord Shiva and Bhrama an orange colour base is used. This particular colour is called Pazhuppu. Certain characters such as Kathi is used for Duryothanan.

In Kathakali, the make-up is elaborate. Certain colours predominate Kathakali.

These colours are red, green, black and yellow. Each colour reflects certain significant nature, such as Satvik, Rajasik and Tamasik. The headgears also resemble the costume colour and make-up colour.

The pacha veesham (green colour) portrays divine characters such as Lord Rama. These Pacha characters wear purple, blue, or yellow robes. Similarly, Chuvanna thadi (red thadi) is used for evil characters. These characters wear a red jacket and vella thadi (white beard)The vella thadi is given for superior characters such as Hanuman. The white thadi characters wear white costumes.

Kathi Vesham (green makeup with red colour checks depict the character of high birth, who had tainted with evil. Similarly Kari Vesham (black colour beard) signifies the character of the forest dweller, or hunter. Minnuku Vesham (bright yellow), this particular make up is more suitable for women or an asetic.

There is a normal tendency in Kathakali to make the characters big or enlarge the normal size of the selective characters that use big heavily pleated skirts. The male characters wear dark full-sleeved jackets with coloured bulging long skirts.

The female characters tie a knot above the head on one side of the forehead, and decorate with a glittering shawl and ornaments. The facial make-up of the Kathakali dancers are heavy. For the facial make up layer upon layer are applied . Colours are selected according to the needs of the characters.

The lips are painted in pink. It takes ten to twelve hours to complete the make-up. The eyes of the characters are reddened by the application of a particular seed.

The Kathakali artistes wear a variety of ornaments including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, chin caps, armbands, gilt breast plates and tiny jingling bells strung round the ankles. The evil characters wear sport talons (in the shape of long claw like nails). Kathakali is totally based on dance drama.

The costumes and make-up are naturally selected according to the needs of the make-up.

In Kathakali the thala laya instruments, such as two drums are selected, known as the Chenda and Maddalam, along with the cymbals (thala laya instrument, named ela thalam).

The Ela thala instrument is also a cymbal. They play the instrument standing.