Kathakali

Kathakali is a highly structured classical dance-drama staged in traditional theatres, cultural centres, and temple courtyards, where it brings epic stories to life through dance, music, and expressive acting.

Kathakali is a 300-400 year old classical dance-drama from Kerala. It combines:

Elaborate face makeup and towering costumes
Highly expressive eye and facial movements
A sophisticated language of hand gestures (mudras)
Live percussion (especially chenda and maddalam)
Stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas.

Unlike most dance forms, Kathakali performers rarely speak. The entire story is conveyed through expressions, gestures, movement and music.

Kadakali

The makeup tells you the character

The makeup itself is a visual language:

Green (Pacha) – noble heroes such as Krishna or Arjuna
Knife-mark (Kathi) – arrogant or villainous kings
Black – hunters, forest people or demons
Red beard – fierce demons
White beard – Hanuman and monkey characters