Kathakali

Kathakali, one of the best classical forms of India, has brought Kerala world fame. There is no other art form like it in the world that combines music, literature, acting, dance, instruments, painting and sculpture. The predecessor of Kathakali is Krishnanattam, which emerged in the 16th century under the encouragement of the Zamorin of Kozhikode. The Ramanattam, which was created by the Thampuran of Kottarakkara in the 17th century, evolved into Kathakali. The king of Vettathunadu, Kaplingott Namboodiri and Chathu Panicker of Kalladikode Kalari played an important role in reforming Kathakali. It was the Thampuran of Kottayam, who lived in the 18th century, who gave Kathakali its literary foundation. He reformed Kathakali based on the Attakathas he composed, leaving the Ramayana behind. With this, Ramanattam became famous as Kathakali. Later, the kings of Travancore nurtured Kathakali. In the 20th century, it was Vallathol's efforts that made Kathakali world famous. 

Kathakali Characters

Kathakali is an art form that is mainly about costumes. There are five main types of costumes in Kathakali, depending on the characters' expressions. They are pacha, kathi, thadi, kari and minukku. 'Pacha costumes' represent characters with good character. Nala, Arjuna, Bhimasena etc. all wear pacha costumes. 'Kathi' represents characters who are a mixture of good and evil. The specialty of Kathi is that both sides of the nose are curved in the shape of a knife. Characters like Duryodhana, Ravana, Keechaka all wear a kathi costume.

Characters belonging to the 'Kari' category will have black hair and beards. Characters with a cruel nature will wear kari costumes. Kattalan, Soorpanakha, etc. are 'Kari' costumes. There are three types of thadi costumes. Red thadi, white thadi, and black thadi. Red thadi is common for evil characters and white thadi is common for good characters. Bakan, Shisupalan, etc. have red beards and Hanuman has white beards. Black beard is a costume that indicates characters who are hunters. Characters who wear black costumes are female characters, sages, and Brahmins. Some characters also appear in costumes that are not part of these five types of costumes.

Prominent Kathakali teachers 

■ Pattikkamthodi Ravunni Menon

■ Guru Chengannur Raman Pillai

■ Guru Thakazhi Kunju Kurup

■ Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair

■ Vazhenkada Kunchu Nair

■ Keezhpadam Kumaran Nair

■ Kudamaloor Karunakaran Nair

■ Guru Mampuzha Madhava Panicker

■ Oyoor Kochugovinda Pillai

■ Kavungal Chathunni Panicker

■ Haripad Ramakrishna Pillai

■ Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair

■ Kalamandalam Sankaran Embranthiri

■ Kalamandalam Unnikrishna Kurup

■ Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair

■ Kalamandalam Gopi

■ Anandasivaram

■ Kottakkal Sivaraman

■ Kalamandalam Haridas

■ Kalamandalam Hyderali

■ Kudamaloor Mankulam Krishnan Namboodiri

■ Champakulam Pachu Pillai

■ Madavoor Vasudevan Nair

■ Mankompu Sivasankara Pillai

■ Sadanam Krishnankutty

■ Margi Vijayakumar

■ Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri

■ Kottakkal Chandrasekharan

■ Mankulam Vishnu Namboodiri 

■ Kalamandalam Neelakantan Nambisan

■ Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval

■ Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair