Kathakali-A Great Performing Art Form from Kerala

Kathakali-the classical Dance-Drama from Kerala

Kathakali an Overview Kathakali, the popular Performing Art form Kerala got international reputation due to the peculiarities of it. The Classical Dance-Drama, Kathakali is originated during the 17th centuary in kerala and developed much over the years. As a best combination of various art forms, Kathakali became most favorite to all. Kathakali helped much for the development of Kerala Tourism. So Kerala Government and Tourism Department are giving special consideration to Kathakali. Origin of Kathakali

Kottarakkara Thampuran, the ruler of Kottarakkara was created an art form called Ramanattam in the end of 17th century. Ramanattom was later transformed into Kathakali. Stories of Kathakali are written in Malayalam. Attractive make-up of characters, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music Etc.make Kathakali, the great. It is an actor centered play where the actor never speaks. Kathakali on Pinterest Ramabhdran, the Author of this post has a Pinterest board named as Kerala Tourism-Kathakali which has a great collection of information on Kathakali. Kathakali on Pinterest board contains best videos, and photographs on Kathakali. It has over 70 information rich pins regarding Kathakali and each pin contains the links to relevant websites or blogs. Kathakali Plays Less than 30 Kathakali stories or plays are usually staged out of 101 traditional plays. The most favorite and frequently staging Kathakali stories are Nalacharitham, Duryodhana vadham, Kalyana sougandhikam, Keechaka vadham, Kiratham, Karna shpatham, Uthara swayamvaram, Kacha-Devayani, Kamsa vadham, Harichandra charitham, Kuchela vritham, Santhana gopalam, Bali vijayam, Daksha yagam, Rugmini swayamvaram, Poothana moksham, Subhadra haranam, Bali vadham, Rugmangada charitham, Narakasura vadham, Ravanolbhavam, Kalakeya vadham, Baka vadham, Kirmeera vadham and more. Kathakali Performance Kathakali is usually performed during night in front of a huge Kalivilakku which is lighted with the help of coconut oil and

cotton strips. We could not hear any dialogue from the Actor, but he use hand gestures, expressions and rhythmic dancing instead of dialogue. Kathakali Training Centers Kerala Kalamadalam is the most important Kathakali training centre in Kerala which is recently upgraded as a University for Classical Arts. There are so many other institutions for training and Research in Kathakali like PSV Natya Sangham in Kottakal near Kozhikode, Sadhanam Kadhakali and Classical Arts Accadamy in Perur near Ottappalam, Unnayi Warrier Smaraka Kalanilayam in Irinjalakuda near Thrissur, Margi in Thiruvananthapuram, Kalabharathi in Kottarakara, International Centre for Kahakali in New Delhi, Sathinikethan at Viswa-Bharathi University in West Bengal, Kalakshetra in Chennai, Darpana Acadamy in Ahmedabad and more Kottarakkara Kathakali Museum Kottarakkara Thampuran Memorial Museum of Classical Arts which is also known as Kottarakkara Kathakali Museum is one of the major attractions of kollam. Kottarakkara Thampuran, the father of Kathakali is well memorized through this venture. The exhibits in his Museum includes a best collection of antiques, ornaments, models of Kathakali, costumes, ornaments, musical equipments and sculptures of kathakali, costumes and models of dance forms. Kahakali Museum is in Kottarakkara which is at a distance of 27 km to the east of Kollam on the Kollam-Punalur Highway. Kathakali Artists

Guru Chenannur is a great name in field of Kathakali Actors. Other famous Kahakali Artists are Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair, Kalamandalam Gopi, Madavoor Vasudevan Nair, Kottakal Krishnankutty Nair, Mankoompu Sivasankarapillai, FACT Padmanabhan, Margi Vijayakumar, Kalanilayam Gopalakrishnan, Mathur Govindankutty and many more. Kathakali Villages There are certain places in Kerala that have given birth to many Kathakali artists and activists over the years which are known as Kathakali villages. Vellinezhi, Ottapalam, Peringode, Kothachira, Kudavattoor, and Cherpulassery in Palakkad district, Payyannur in Kannur district, Kuttanad, Harippad belt in Alappuzha district, Vazhekada in Malappuram district, some places in and around Thiruvananthapuram district Etc. are known as Kathakali villages. Ramabhadran, Author of this post is a known content writer, CEO, Web Publishers India, an Online Publishing and Advertising Company. Websites; 1. 2. 3. 4. Popular Indian Sites Kerala Links Kerala Arts and Culture Kerala Matrimony