KATHAKALI - ART AND
CULTURE
News: AI to make Kathakali more
accessible to audience
What's in the news?
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While the creative prowess of artificial
intelligence (AI) isn’t received so ecstatically by some artists, a
collaboration of artists and programmers in Kerala are now crafting a machine
language to foster a deeper appreciation for Kerala’s classical art –
Kathakali.
Key takeaways:
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A project by the Indian Institute of Information
Technology and Kerala Kalamandalam aims at developing an AI-enabled tool capable of providing interpretations of the art form.
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The 24
fundamental mudras are now being encoded.
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In the final phase, the system will generate
interpretations in different languages in real time and provide subtitles.
Kathakali:
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Kathakali, a dance
drama, belongs to ancient Kerala and are usually performed by the male.
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This classical dance form is still practised in the
state. Kathakali is a combination of literature, music, painting, acting and
dance. “Katha” means story and “Kali” stands for dance.
Uniqueness:
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Kathakali symbolizes a blending of the Aryan and Dravidian cultures, for shaping its
technique.
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The most striking element in Kathakali is the
dramatic quality which is inspiring and belongs exclusively to a world of myth
and legend.
Origin of Kathakali:
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The actual roots of Kathakali can be traced to at
least 1500 years earlier.
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It evolved out of the earlier dance forms like the
Chakiayarkoothu and Koodiyattom, Mudiyettu, Theyyattom, Sastrakali,
Krishnanattom and Ramanattom of Kerala
Elements of Kathakali:
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A Kathakali performance begins with the kelikottu. It is a devotional number
performed where one or two characters invoke the blessings of the gods.
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Kelikottu is the formal announcement of the
performance done in the evening when drums and cymbals are played for a while
in the courtyard.
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Kelikottu is followed by todayam.
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A pure nritta piece known as the purappadu comes as a sequel to this.
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Then the musicians and drummers hold the stage
entertaining the audience with an exhibition of their skills in melappada.
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Kalasams are pure dance sequences where the actor is at
great liberty to express himself and display his skills.
Features of Kathakali
Dance:
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Most Kathakali recitals are a grand representation
of the eternal conflict between good and
evil. Kathakali draws upon the inexhaustible treasure of the ancient
puranas, the Mahabharata, and the
Ramayana.
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Kathakali dance is chiefly interpretative. The
characters in a Kathakali performance are broadly divided into satvika,
rajasika and tamasika types.
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Kathakali is remarkable in the representation of the rasas through the movement of eye and eyebrows.
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The use of props is minimum in Kathakali recitals.
However, elaborate facial makeup along with a headgear is used for different
characters.
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When it comes to music, several poets have
contributed to a Kathakali script, which is called Kathakali Padam.
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Each Padam is a poem which is recited in one of the
Carnatic music ragas.
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The stories for dance, the poetic compositions of
legendary stories are performed in Carnatic style.
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Men usually perform in Kathakali. Men dressed in
women’s costumes portray female characters. A Kathakali actor needs to have
immense concentration, skill and physical stamina, gained from the training
based on Kalari Payette (Kalaripayattu),
the ancient martial art of Kerala.
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Kathakali is generally performed in open air theatres or temple premises.
The performance generally begins in the evening and it continues throughout the
night, culminating at the auspicious hour of dawn, when Good finally conquers
evil.
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Kathakali symbolizes the element of sky or ether.
Different Colors have
Different Meanings:
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Green is a color associated with nobility, divinity, and
virtue.
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The presence of red patches beside the nose denotes royalty.
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The color black
is used to represent evil and depravity.
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The color yellow
is associated with saints and women.
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Completely Face painted in red denotes evil.
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Beings with a white
beard have a greater level of consciousness and divinity.
Famous Exponents:
● Guru Kunchu Kurup, Kavungal Chathunni Panicker, Gopi Nath, Rita Ganguly etc.