Art & Culture Prelims Question

Kerala is the home of several traditional dance and dance - drama forms, the most notable being Kathakali.
Kathakali, as a dance form popular today, is considered to be of comparatively recent origin.
However, it is an art which has evolved from, many social and religious theatrical forms which existed in the southern region in ancient times. Chakiarkoothu, Koodiyattam, Krishnattam and Ramanattam are few of the ritual performing arts of Kerala, which have had a direct influence on Kathakali in its form and technique. Legend has it that the refusal of the Zamorin of Calicut to send his Krishnattam troupe to Travancore, so enraged the Raja of Kottarakkara, that he was inspired to compose the Ramanattam.
In the temple sculptures in Kerala and the frescoes in the Mattancheri temple of approximately the 16th century, dance scenes depicting the square and rectangular basic positions, so typical to Kathakali, are seen. For body movements and choreographical patterns, Kathakali is also indebted to the early martial arts of Kerala.
Kathakali is a blend of dance, music and acting, and dramatizes stories, which are mostly adapted from the Indian epics. It is a stylised art form, the four aspects of abhinaya - angika, aharya, vachika, satvika and the nritta, nritya and natya aspects are combined perfectly. The dancer expresses himself through codified hastamudras and facial expressions, closely following the verses (padams) that are sung. Kathakali derives its textual sanction from Balarama Bharatam and Hastalakshana Deepika.
Kathakali is a visual art where aharya, costume and make-up are suited to the characters, as per the tenets laid down in the Natya Shastra. The characters are grouped under certain clearly defined types, like the pacha, kathi, thadi, kari or minukku. The face of the artist is painted over to appear as though a mask is worn. The lips, the eyelashes and the eyebrows are made to look prominent. A mixture of rice paste and lime is applied to make the chutti on the face, which highlights the facial make-up.

Kerala is the home of several traditional dance and dance - drama forms, the most notable being Kathakali.
Kathakali, as a dance form popular today, is considered to be of comparatively recent origin.
However, it is an art which has evolved from, many social and religious theatrical forms which existed in the southern region in ancient times. Chakiarkoothu, Koodiyattam, Krishnattam and Ramanattam are few of the ritual performing arts of Kerala, which have had a direct influence on Kathakali in its form and technique. Legend has it that the refusal of the Zamorin of Calicut to send his Krishnattam troupe to Travancore, so enraged the Raja of Kottarakkara, that he was inspired to compose the Ramanattam.
In the temple sculptures in Kerala and the frescoes in the Mattancheri temple of approximately the 16th century, dance scenes depicting the square and rectangular basic positions, so typical to Kathakali, are seen. For body movements and choreographical patterns, Kathakali is also indebted to the early martial arts of Kerala.
Kathakali is a blend of dance, music and acting, and dramatizes stories, which are mostly adapted from the Indian epics. It is a stylised art form, the four aspects of abhinaya - angika, aharya, vachika, satvika and the nritta, nritya and natya aspects are combined perfectly. The dancer expresses himself through codified hastamudras and facial expressions, closely following the verses (padams) that are sung. Kathakali derives its textual sanction from Balarama Bharatam and Hastalakshana Deepika.
Kathakali is a visual art where aharya, costume and make-up are suited to the characters, as per the tenets laid down in the Natya Shastra. The characters are grouped under certain clearly defined types, like the pacha, kathi, thadi, kari or minukku. The face of the artist is painted over to appear as though a mask is worn. The lips, the eyelashes and the eyebrows are made to look prominent. A mixture of rice paste and lime is applied to make the chutti on the face, which highlights the facial make-up.

Options

Explanation

Share

Related prelims questions

Options

Explanation

Share

Related prelims questions