My OperaKathakali - a traditional dance drama
Thursday, November 4, 2010 11:34:54 PM
For the first time in Bangladesh a workshop on Kathakali dance was held at Shanta Marium University of Creative Technology from October 26 to 31.As a finale to the workshop,Kathakali dance was performed at the National Theatre Hall on November 2.
Kathakali is a reputed dance form which originated from the south Indian state Kerala way back in the 17th century.The word'kathakali'means story play.The stories are taken from the Hindu mythology, particularly from the two epics called the "Ramayan" and the "Mahabharat".
This highly stylised dance drama is marked with loud make-up, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and melodramatic scenes and so on.The main facial expressions depicted by a Kathakali artiste are the 'navarasams' or nine emotions.These are 'Sringaram' ( amour or seduction), 'Hasyam' (humor),'Bhayankaran' (fear), 'Karunam'( pathos), 'Roudram (anger),'Veeram'(valour),'Beebhatsam'(disgust), 'Adbhutam' (amazement)and 'Shantam' (calmness).
As I said before, Kathakali has its own color-code.The faces of noble male characters are painted in green.For example, Ravan, a character of high birth with an evil design is allotted a green make-up, slashed with red marks on the cheeks.Extremely bad characters wear red make-up with flowing red beard.Women and ascetics have lustrous, yellow faces.
Thus the performers of this traditional dance form bring to life the tale of the star-crossed lovers through delicate,restrained and powerful body language.
Kathakali is a reputed dance form which originated from the south Indian state Kerala way back in the 17th century.The word'kathakali'means story play.The stories are taken from the Hindu mythology, particularly from the two epics called the "Ramayan" and the "Mahabharat".
This highly stylised dance drama is marked with loud make-up, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and melodramatic scenes and so on.The main facial expressions depicted by a Kathakali artiste are the 'navarasams' or nine emotions.These are 'Sringaram' ( amour or seduction), 'Hasyam' (humor),'Bhayankaran' (fear), 'Karunam'( pathos), 'Roudram (anger),'Veeram'(valour),'Beebhatsam'(disgust), 'Adbhutam' (amazement)and 'Shantam' (calmness).
As I said before, Kathakali has its own color-code.The faces of noble male characters are painted in green.For example, Ravan, a character of high birth with an evil design is allotted a green make-up, slashed with red marks on the cheeks.Extremely bad characters wear red make-up with flowing red beard.Women and ascetics have lustrous, yellow faces.
Thus the performers of this traditional dance form bring to life the tale of the star-crossed lovers through delicate,restrained and powerful body language.
