Kathakali

Kathakali is a classical dance-drama from India, known for its elaborate and intricate style. It belongs to the Malayalam-speaking state of Kerala and is performed almost exclusively by the Malayali community. The art form is built around verses called Attakatha, or Kathakali literature, and was historically staged in royal courts and at temple festivals, earning it the label of a suvarna (golden) art. Its performances draw on the nine rasas (navarasas) from the Natya Shastra, the ancient text by sage Bharata. The makeup and costumes are notably large and distinctive.

Kathakali shares a close connection with Koodiyattam, an older Kerala theater form that is the last surviving example of ancient Sanskrit theatre, believed to have originated around the start of the common era and recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. While the fully developed style of Kathakali emerged around the 16th century, its roots go back to temple and folk arts of southwestern India, such as Krishnanattam and the religious drama of the Zamorin of Calicut, traceable to at least the first millennium CE.

Like all Indian classical dances, Kathakali blends music, vocalists, choreography, and hand and facial gestures to convey ideas. However, it stands apart by incorporating movements from ancient Indian martial arts and athletic traditions of South India. Its structure and details were refined in the courts and theatres of Hindu principalities, unlike other classical Indian dances that mainly developed in temples and monastic schools. Traditional themes come from folk stories, religious legends, and Hindu epics and Puranas, with vocals performed in Sanskritised Malayalam. Modern troupes have included women and adapted Western works, such as Shakespeare’s plays, and in 2011, a performance expressing Christian doctrine was staged for the first time in Kerala.

The name Kathakali comes from “katha” (story or traditional tale) and “kaḷi” (performance or play), symbolizing the eternal struggle between good and evil. Its elements are drawn from ancient texts like the Natya Shastra, which describes dance theory, expression, gestures, and techniques foundational to Indian classical dance. The roots of Kathakali are unclear; some scholars place it at over 500 years old, while others suggest it is around 1500 years old. It emerged as a distinct genre in the 16th and 17th centuries in Kerala.

Kathakali shares costume elements with older arts like Kutiyattam and Krishnanattam, though it differs in details. Kutiyattam is one of the oldest continuously performed theatre forms in India, traditionally staged in temples. Krishnanattam, a dance-drama about the god Krishna developed under the ruler of Calicut, is considered a likely immediate precursor. Legend says Kottarakkara Thampuran created Ramanattam (based on the Ramayana) after being denied a Krishnanattam troupe, which later evolved into Kathakali. Other related forms include Ashtapadiyattom, based on the Gita Govinda, and Kathakali also borrows from ritual arts like Mudiyettu, Theyyam, Padayani, and folk traditions such as Porattu Nadakam, as well as the martial art Kalarippayattu. Unlike older arts where the dancer-actor also sang, Kathakali separates these roles, allowing performers to focus on choreography while vocal artists handle the singing.