One of the major dance drams style of India, has originated from the lush, green southern most state of India-Kerala. A traditional Kadhakali performance lasts all night and tells stories of heroes and heroines, good & demons from the Indian epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana. The techniques of Kadhakali are extermly complicated and the dancers, mainly men, excute rapid spins,leaps and freezes with split second timings.
The curtain symbolises maya, illusion. From behind the curtain comes the invigorating sound of OM from a drum. As the Omkara goes on, ritual is performed behind the curtain, prayers to the various deities to push away maya and sanctify the stage. There is the sound of the drums, cymbals... and slowly the curtain is withdrawn...the play begins...The huge brass lamp glows brilliantly and beyond the lamp stands the players.
Most important of the Indian dance drama style is Kathakali from Kerala. The stories for enacting Kathakali are taken mostly from the great epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha.
In Kathakali, the make-up is very elaborate and intricate, and each character has a set mode which is strictly observed. Red green, black, yellow, orange...these are the predominant colours in Kathakali make-up. The colours used have a significance and a direct bearing on the characters. This is based on the concept of three gunas, namely satvik, rajasik and tamasik.
The dance is rugged and expansive, the music shrill and piercing, the emotional representation rambling and exaggerated. The costumes, head dresses and ornaments are gorgeous and together with the make-up impart Kathakali a rather weird and fantastic aspect.
