The styles and acting aspects of Kathakali dance form

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The roots of modern day Kathakali and its distinguishing styles of play version and dance performance dates back to the 16th and 17th century, the style was called Sampradayam. The styles were developed in the Gurukul system and the diffusion of style took place from one cohort to the next. By the 19th century, many such styles were in trend in Malayalam speaking communities of south India. Among them two major styles have crystallized and survived into the modern age. The two styles are: 

§      Kidangoor style- It is one of the two styles, which is strongly influenced by Kutiyattam, while also represents elements of Ramanattam and Kalladikkotan. It is traditionally attributed to Nalanunni, under the patronage of Utram Tirunal Maharaja (1815-1861).

§  Kalluvayi style- It is second of the two, it is a synthesis of the older Kaplingadan and Kalladikkitan and Kalladikkotan performance arts. It is traditionally attributed to Unniri Panikkar, in a Brahmin household (~1850), and became the dominant style established in Kerela Kalamandalam – a school of performance arts.

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Kathakali is structured around plays called Attakatha (literally, "enacted story"), written in Sanskritized Malayalam. These plays are written in a exacting set-up that helps identify the "action" and the "dialogue" parts of the performance. The Shloka part is the metrical verse, written in third person is often entirely written in Sanskrit, and these describe the action part of the choreography. The Pada part contains the dialogue part. The premise and fundamentals of Kathakali are similar to other key classical Indian dances, traceable to Sanskrit texts such as the Natya Shastra, but the expression style in each is very different and distinctive. The various kinds of acting used in Kathakali are-

·         Angika Abhinaya- This includes an elaborate combination of mime, gestures, facial expressions which basically include the whole body of the actor.

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·              Vachika Abhinaya- One of the many distinguishing elements of Kathakali is the lack of speech. Text in the form of songs and verses is recited by the vocalists.

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·                   Satvika Abhinaya- The Rasabhinaya a highly stylized technique to evoke Bhaba has been developed by Kathakali. The actor maintains a strong internal discipline which helps him go deeper into the characterization of the role and enables him to master the action technique.

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·               Akariya Abhinaya- Akariya is the name given to the make-up, stage, costumes used. These are the most important elements that facilitate the transformation of the actor into the most beautiful characters ever seen in the world of theaters.

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