Kathakali

Kathakali

Kathakali

Kathakali

Kathakali Image

Kathakali

Kathakali Image

Kathakali

Kathakali

Kathakali

Kathakali classical danceKathakali classical dance of Kerala owes its transnational fame to the nearly 300-year-old.

Kathakali literally means story-play and is an elaborate dance depicting the victory of truth over falsehood. Themes revolve around the two great epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha.

A Striking feature of Kathakali is the use of elaborate make-up and colourful costumes. This is to emphasize that the characters are superbeings from another world.

The spectators can feel his invisible presence when the heroine or her maid details dreams and ambitions through circular movements, delicate footsteps and subtle expressions. Through slow and medium tempos, the dancer is able to find adequate space for improvisations and suggestive bhavas or Kathakali classical danceemotions.

Costume is designed with lots of paint applied on the face of the artist. The pomp and magnificence of Kathakali is partly due to its decor, part of which include the 'Kireetam' or huge head gear, the 'Kanchukam' or the over sized jacket, and the long skirt worn over a thick padding of cushions.

Make-up which is of five types- Pacha, Kathi, Thadi, Kari and Minukku.

The Nayaka Bhava

The Nayaka Bhava

Just like the heroines, the moods and emotions of the hero are also classified into different divisions. The main division is

• Dheerodaatta eg. Lord Rama
• Dheeroddhata eg. Demon Ravana
• Dheeralalita eg. Vatsaraaja
• Dheerashanta eg. Buddha

The other classification is

Pati - Married & faithful to his wife.

Upapati - Married but in love with another woman.

Vaisika - One who pays & enjoys women.



Further Nayaka classifications

Anukoola - Faithful to the Woman. eg. Lord Rama

Dakshina - Loves all his wives or women. eg. Arjuna

Drishta - When rejected, pleads to be accepted by his woman. eg. Vaali

Shatha - The deceitful one. eg. Lord Krishna



Most of the ashtanayika bhavas are experienced by the Nayaka also though the depiction of ashtanayika is more than the nayaka.

Nayaka's Companion plays an important role too.This companion is categorized as

• Peetamardhana
• Vita
• Cheta
• Vidooshaka

The Nayika Bhava

The Nayika Bhava



The shastras have classified the basic mental status of woman, the Nayika, into Eight divisions, called Ashtanayika bhavas. These divisions portray the heroine in different situations, express different feelings, sentiments & reactions.

The Ashtanayika bhava are

• Abhisarika
• Kalahantarika
• Khandita
• Proshitapathika
• Swadheenapathika
• Vasakasajjika
• Virahotkantita
• Vipralabda

Abhisarika - She is the one who boldly goes out to meet her lover.

Kalahantarika - She is the one who is repenting her hastiness in quarrelling with her lover, which has resulted in their separation.

Khandita - She is the one who is angry with her lover for causing disappointment.

Proshitapathika - She is the one who is suffering in the absence of her beloved, who is away on a long journey.

Swadheenapathika - She is the one who is proud of her husband's or beloved's love and loyalty.

Vasakasajjika - She is the one who is preparing for the arrival of her beloved, by decorating herself and her surroundings. to provide a pleasant welcome to her lover.

Virahotkantita - She is the one who is separated from her lover & is yearning for reunion.

Vipralabda - She is the one who is disappointed that her lover has not turned up at the tryst as he promised.



Other classifications of the Nayika bhava are

Mugdha - Inexperienced in love.

Madhya - Partly Experienced in love.

Pragalbha - Matured in the art of love.

This Pragalbha Nayika is further classified as

• Dheera
• Adheera
• Dheeraadheera

Sweeya - Married & faithful to her husband.

Parakeeya - Married but in love with another man.

Samanya - A free woman, who truly belongs to any man for a price.

Jyeshta - The preferred one.

Kanishta - The other woman.



Further classifications are

Uttama - Self-controlled & tolerant.

Madhyama - Literally the middle one, who gives as she gets.

Adhama - Literally the low one, who has no self restraint.



The Companion to the Nayika plays an important role in any padam, javali or Ashtapadi. This Companion is the one to whom the Nayika will convey her feelings, she is the one who will take the message,if any, from the nayika to the nayaka, she is the one who will sort out the differences between the nayika & the nayaka. This companion is usually a girl who is close to the Nayika.

The classification of the Companion is as follows.

• Daasi - Servant
• Sakhi - Friend
• Kaaroo - Woman from a lower caste
• Chatriya - Step Sister
• Prativamshini - Neighbor
• Lindini - Saint
• Shilpani - Artist
• Swaa - Nayika herself as a messenger