Kathakali
Kathakali is a highly stylized classical Indian dance-drama noted for the attractive make-up of characters, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion. It originated in the country’s present day state of Kerala during the 17th century[1] and has developed over the years with improved looks, refined gestures and added themes besides more ornate singing and precise drumming.
Shosh and I trundled down to the theatre and watched them put on makeup for an hour or so and then watched the 4 or 5 scene “play”
I had a sense of something that was steeped in culture was happening. They train for many years and the movements and things they do with their fingers and feet and eyes and mouth are a kind of lauguage – a language of feelings and the senses.
Here is a video as well of the snippets of the performance.
And below is the gallery of some of my pictures taken in Fort Cochin.
