The Arts of Kerala

Kerala, with its rich background of art & culture, has its own art forms which symbolises the outlook & life of Keralites. From the famous Kathakali, which is considered as the complete art form as it synthesis all that is best in the fields of drama, music & dance to the fascinating folk dances, which are the rhythmic impulses of a sensitive egalitarian society, Kerala's arts are unique ! The Yogi Bharatha wrote the famous Natya Shastra, the Science of Dance, in which he postulated that Musicology consists of the Eternal Triad of Drama, Dance & Music ( Geetham Natyam Thadha Nritham Trayam Sangeetham Uchyathe ) !  

Kathakali - The Dance Drama of Kerala 

Acting, dancing & Music - these three arts constitute this dance drama. It is pantomime in which actors do not sing nor do they speak but interpret their emotions through highly sensitive medium of appropriate gestures, picturesque hand-poses and vivid facial expressions, which is intelligible even to the layman ! Both dramatic & a dance art, Kathakali with predominance of histrionics, is considered as a complete art.  It belongs to the imaginative form of Art & not the realistic, which is highlighted by Bharatha in his famous treatise ! 

This Master Art is Kerala's very own, drawing its themes from the vast wealth of India's Mythology & folklore. Ramanattom was created as a sort of rival to Krishnanattom & Kathakali evolved from Ramanattom into a complete art. It strictly follows the fundamentals & axioms laid down by Bharata, who was considered to be the father of Indian Classical Dances. 

A high degree of control over body & muscle movements and facial expressions is called for, from the actor's perspective. The performer  is helped by vocal & percussion accompaniments & the theme is expounded by him through hand gestures known as Hasta Mudras , which are 25 in number. The best way to appreciate a Kathakali performance is to get the story explained to you in advance. This amazing evocative art has evolved into a package that weaves a tantalising spell today, combining chant, drama, dance, makeup, dress & gesture ! 

The History of Kathakali 

Prior to the genesis of this magnificent Art, there existed in Kerala different types of dance, drama & dance-dramas. Arts like Chakyarkoothu, Koodiyattam & different dances associated with the cult of the Mother Goddess, such as Moodiyattu, Thiyyattom & Theyyattom, the socio-religious & material dances like the Sastrakali & Ezhamattukali & the latterly evolved dance-dramas like Krishnanattom & Ramanattom, were flourishing in Kerala prior to the advent of this Divine Art. You will find that characteristic features of these dances & dramas had been incorporated & assimilated by this Master Art

Magnificent archaic costumes, grand head gears and enchanting make ups characterise this majestic Dance-Drama. It is perhaps the only dance form in India in which the masculine aspect of the dance is preserved in its pristine vigour.    

All feelings are idealised and facially expressed with intense vividness and you will find that this compensates for the absence of the spoken word. All such facial expressions will harmonise and synchronise with the rhythm of the Dance & the musical melody.

Music is a very important ingredient and the Orchestra is composed of two vocal musicians, one keeping time with a resounding gong known as Chengala & the other with a pair of clanking cymbals known as Elethalam, a Chenda player and a Maddala player. Chenda is a cylindrical drum with a beautifully sweet sound while the Maddala appears as a big Mridanga.  

Amongst the two vocal musicians in Kathakali, the main one is Ponani & the minor partner is Sinkidi & the Kathakali songs, couched in wealthy poetic diction have, enriched Malayalam literature.  

All the characters of Kathakali are mythological and have different modes of makeup.

 Adornment & attire are reduced to 5 types. They are

1) Pacha ( Green )  representing Noble & virtuous characters 

2) Kathi ( Knife )   Unrighteous characters 

3) Thadi ( Beard )  Demoniac characters  

4) Kari ( Black )     Agressors 

5) Minukku ( Polished ) Spiritually inclined characters 

While the ornamentation & costumes are elaborate, the large overcoats, the bulging skirts, the antique ornaments - all create a tremendous impression on the viewer, while the facial expressions of the actors along with the celestial music behind create a Virtual Reality or Life out of India's massive mythological literature ! 

The most distinguished amongst the Thullal arts, Ottam Thullal was ingeniously devised by a master artist, Kunjan Nambiar. It is written that he was humiliated by a Chakyar, as Nambiar dozed off during a performance. In order to take revenge on his humiliation he wrote a poem depicting an episode from the epic Mahabharata in a never-to-fore metric & pattern rhythmic. A special kind of dance for its exposition was formulated. By innovative methods, humor and the enjoyableness of the programme, he attracted all audiences that had surrounded Chakyar. A new art was born and this was christened as "Ottam Thullal ".

The costumes & crown are copied from Kathakali, with variations. It is a solo dance with the artiste singing verses to the accompaniment of Mridanga with a refrain repeater singing behind. Duration of the programme is a couple of hours. 

Theyyam

With the dancer wearing special dress & head gears, Theyyam is a form of spiritual dance performed in temples of the Mother Goddess in North Malabar. Songs and musical instruments accompany Theyyam. 

Chakyarkoothu

This is the oldest amongst the classical theatre arts and the solo dance is usually presented in Temples, to the accompaniment of Elathalam & Mizhavu. Beginning with an Invocation the Deity of the Temple, its narration is enlivened by the Thandava dance movements, facial expression & gestures according to the principles of Natya Shastra. Humour is abound in plentitude in this art and its themes are taken from India's Epic Poetry ( Ramayana & Mahabharatha ). 

Miss Dhanya of Zodiac Computers in Mohiniyattyam attire 

Mohiniyattam

The dynamism & vigour of Kathakali is integrated with the grace of Bharata Natyam in this beautiful, attractive Art. This dance is performed in connection with festivals in the Temple. The white cloth ( mundu ) is the costume & hair is gathered up & put up at the side of the head, Kerala style, & adorned with jasmine.  Thiruvathirakkali

Dressed in the traditional style of Kerala, women & girls stand in a circle round a lighted Lamp ( Nilavilakku ) and they sing and dance around the Lamp. This is normally performed on the Vedic constellation day of Thiruvathira ( when the Moon is in the constellation of Aridra ).  Songs praise the deities of the Vedic pantheon. 

Kavadiyattam

Devotees of the Commander-in-Chief of the celestials, Lord Muruga, wearing bright yellow or saffron costumes with ash smeared all over the body, dance in a frenzy carrying Kavadis on their shoulders. Kavadis are wooden structures that rise 6 to 10 feet. Ambalakavadi is shaped like a temple & Pookavadi has clusters of plastic flowers arranged on them. Koodiyattam

"Acting together " - this is the meaning of this Art and this Art is enacted inside the theatre of the Vedic Temple. There are always 2 or more characters onstage simultaneously, with Chakiars providing the male cast & Nangiars donning the female robes. 

Valekali

A martial dance, Velakali originated in Alleppey. It was initiated by Mathoor Panicker, the Chief of the Chempakasseri Army, who promoted it with the noble intention of boosting the martial spirit of the people. Clad in the colorful headgear & the traditional clothes of the Nair soldiers, the dancers engage in dextrous swordplay and vigourous movements to the accompaniment of the Orchestra. 

Theeyattu

This solo dance drama is normally performed in front of Dhooli Chitram or ritual drawing with colored powders in the Temples of the Mother Goddess. Lord Ganapthi is invoked initially, after which the performer dons a Crown similar to the one used in Mudiyettu. It depicts the grand Duel between Goddess Kali & the demon Darika, the negative and the positive elements in Man. Kummattikali

A mask dance popular in North Kerala. The dancers go dancing from house to house. The major Kummatti character is Thalla or Witch while others represent the various deities of the Vedic pantheon. Songs are basically devotional & are normally accompanied by a bow like instrument called Ona-villu. Spectators generally join in the performance as no training is required in this Art. 

Some Kerala Art Links

http://www.kalamandalam.com

http://www.kala.org