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The stories in
Kathakali are all taken from the great Hindu epics like the
Ramayana, Mahabharta, and Mahabhagavata, therefore it presents a
world of super human characters like Gods, Kings and Demons. The
costumes and the makeup are skillfully designed to create the
required super natural appeal . The colours and designs are
unique and also carefully selected to represent various types of
characters portrayed. Make up alone takes three to four hours
for an actor. The make up and costume determines each character
portrayed so the mythological characters are grouped in to
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The colour green is
considered serene and soothing. Characters representing noble
upright heroes paint their face green. The costume known as
paccha (green) is allotted to such characters.
Kathi
(knife) are costumes for characters that are a cross of villainy and
nobility or a combination of royalty and evil. In addition to their
green faces they also use a knife shaped pattern on both their
cheeks in red pigment.
The color red is
frightening and averse. Powerful wicked characters paint their face
red. The costume that represents ‘thamoguna’ thadi
(beard) predominantly using red facial make up and costumes.
Black
color represents primitive and crude characters like demons. Hunters
and also wear black costumes.
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In Kathakali
characters do not sing or say the lines. But actors illustrate the lines sung
from the back ground with aid of expressive code of gestures. Kathakali has a
powerful language of its own in which actors demonstrate the story and converse
with each other.
The gestures are
designed according to the ancient Hindu theatrical arts. Sage Bharata, who has
laid down the fundamentals of these theatre arts, divided the multi facial acts
of emotions as 'navarasa'. All other emotions are just subsidiary aspects or
combination of these nine emotions.
There are 24
alphabets in the language of Kathakali art, based on these alphabet
words, sentences and descriptions are developed. 'Kalasa' or dance
movements are integrated with rhythm and emotions and are
appropriately suited to the dance movements. The language in
Kathakali is comprised of 'mudras' and gestures. The eye and the
eyebrows play a very important part in communicating. These indicate
objects that are distant and near to the character - like the moon,
air, sun, river, water, king, brother, sister etc. These gestures
are appropriately combined with body postures and facial expressions
to perfectly blend the entire play together making it meaningful,
dramatic, impressive and more expressive than just words spoken on
stage.
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The songs are in the form of dialogues and are fully interpreted by the
actors' gestural language , the music is the old Carnatic school
known as ‘sopana riti’, a different form of concert music in Indian
style. Good singing inspires the actor to create a required
expression.
The orchestra
consists of percussion instruments - maddala, chenda, eddakkaya, cymbal, gong
and the conch. Each of the instruments has specific function and sounds and are
exclusively developed in Kerala. Eddakaya, chenda, and maddala are versastile
instruments capable of stirring us up powerfully and lifting us into a strange
new world, so incredible is the performance that you have to see it to believe
it.
By
Prof. B. Unnikrishnan.
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