Kathakali: The Dance-Drama of Kerala

A king was once refused an invitation to a dance performance. So he created a new dance form of his own, one still performed 350 years later.

MCQ Questions

Kathakali

Born From a Refused Invitation

Before 1660

A refused invitation

The King of Calicut denies the King of Kottarakkara a viewing of Krishnanattam.

1660 CE

Ramanattam is created

The King of Kottarakkara responds by creating his own Rama-story dance-drama.

Mid-1600s

The Vettathu Raja refines it

He adds expressive acting and codified hand gestures, shaping Kathakali proper.

1930

Kerala Kalamandalam founded

Poet Vallathol Narayana Menon builds India’s leading centre for Kathakali training.

The five faces of Kathakali: Pacha (green) for nobility, Kathi (knife) for regal villains, Thadi (bearded) for divine to demonic roles, Kari (black) for demons, and Minukku (radiant) for the refined.

Kerala mcqquestion.com

⬇ Download as image

Must Know

• Kathakali is a classical dance-drama from Kerala.
• It is known for elaborate, colourful makeup and costumes.
• Its stories are drawn mainly from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
• It is one of the eight classical dance forms recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Good to Know

• Kathakali uses five main “vesham” styles, or coded makeup types, for its characters.
• “Pacha” (green) marks noble, heroic characters.
• “Kathi” (knife) marks villainous but still regal characters.
• “Thadi” (bearded) covers a range of characters, from divine to demonic, shown in different beard colours.
• “Kari” (black) marks demons and forest-dwelling characters.
• “Minukku” (radiant) is used for refined characters, including women, sages, and Brahmins.
• Performers train for years to master the form’s precise hand gestures, called mudras.
• Live percussion, led by the chenda drum, drives the performance’s rhythm.

Test Yourself

Please wait…

1. Kathakali is a classical dance-drama tradition from which state?

Tamil Nadu

Kerala

Karnataka

Andhra Pradesh

 Loading…

 

Great to Know

• In 1660 CE, the King of Kottarakkara created Ramanattam, a Rama-story dance-drama and Kathakali’s direct predecessor.
• He reportedly made it after the King of Calicut refused to let him view a Krishnanattam performance.
• Ramanattam itself drew on older traditions, including Kutiyattam, a Sanskrit theatre form.
• In the mid-17th century, the Raja of Vettathu reworked Ramanattam into what became Kathakali proper.
• He placed new emphasis on abhinaya (expressive acting) and on the form’s codified hand gestures.
• In 1930, the poet Vallathol Narayana Menon founded the Kerala Kalamandalam.
• It became India’s most important centre for training in Kathakali.