March 16, 2015
Kathakali (Men's only) dance is a four hundred years old dance-form which had official patron in the king of Travancore & Cochin or now Kerala. It is an elaborate ritual of face painting, expressions, dress code, foot movement etc. Kathakali is a dance, a - Katha or a story is related on the stage by - Kala or Kali by movements only. Why the male dancers only, I do not know, but I am sure there is a reason.
I must thank Surinder for his elaborate planning that I watched this show in Kochi or Cochin.
The state of Travancore & Cochin through the seven hundred years of Muslim rule of rest of India never came under their domination. Aurangzeb tried in 1670 but failed. Perhaps Keralites sword was sharper than the Mughal sword and before that all those sultanates which ruled South India from 1300s till Aurangzeb dealt a death blow to these Sultanates in 1670 timeframe also did not wish to tangle with Keralites. Having said that then, you may ask - why 25% of Keralites are Muslim? The reason behind it, is the spice trade which brought them in touch with Arabs, who converted the traders to Islam. The Arab brand of Islam which the traders brought to Kerala had no territorial ambition. Hence Kerala stayed independent, not until the British appeared on their gates in the eighteenth century. The British had much longer range guns and they managed to conquer Kerala same way as rest of India, but not without a fight. One Prime Minister of Kerala with name Velu Thampi lead a Rani Jhansi type revolt in 1807-09 AD and almost succeeded in beating the British, but the clever British found a fifth columnist and captured Thampi and hanged him.
Another 19% of Keralites are Christian. A similar reason exists which predates even Islam. St. Thomas and St Anthony, the Christian Apostles came to Kerala in second century AD onwards and brought the message of Christ. Having said that, the King never changed his religion. The political system stayed Hindu. The king built larger and larger temples, seminaries to balance the growth of both Islam and Christianity.
One of these king in 1600s after his victory over Moghul armies instituted a scholarship to develop the Kathakali art form. Some components of this dance existed before but it became a ritual dance form of Kerala after that.
The place we went to watch this dance is in the interior of this very clean city of Kochi. This dance form have existed in this location for over one hundred years. World dignitaries visit this humble location. Last to visit was Prince Charles in 2013. Countless others have visited it and watched the elaborate preparations and then the dance.
Two male actors in a dimly lit medium sized hall are sitting on a wooden stage and are painting their faces in absolute silence. Flash photography during preparations is forbidden. Flash disturbs their concentration. It takes, over three hours to paint their faces in a specific form as specified in the dance ritual. Their are about fifty to sixty chairs in the room, all are filled with foreigners except we four. They are clicking their cameras away without flash. One male actor is distinctly painting his face as a male and the other as a female for today's performance.
As I was learning more and more about the show, the show manager outside explained that today's performance is about a story from "Bhagwat Puran". In the story a demoness turns into a pretty maiden and tries to seduce the king with her advances. The king refuses all her advances and in the half way thru the show the demoness reveals her true form. The king in the end cuts off her nose and ears - so goes the story which I am about to witness in next 45 minutes on the stage with eyes movements, facial expressions and some foot movements.
First, one of the actor comes on the stage and tutors us, the audience, with 12 forms of expressing yourself with eye movements and then 18 or more forms of facial expressions expressing love, anger, pity and whatever other forms. These are everyday emotions which come naturally but we never sort of pay attention to them. This actor has mastered them. Every time the drum beat changed, he showed us another emotion. We clicked our cameras like nothing before. The actor did not speak a word, a commentary in the background explained the proceedings but the actor was following the drum beat for his own performance.
The drum beat changed and the main performance began. The narrator in the beginning related us the story as to what is going to happen next. Then the commentary stopped and drum beat guided the actor. The lead actor in form of an elaborated king and costume showed himself on the stage. Everybody in the audience clapped.
His kingly gate, his sword, elaborate costumes, his headgear, jewelry, and all that time spent for facial decorations indicated to the audiance that he is the king. We all clapped like hell. He continued his walk as if leisurely going thru his garden with various emotions and eye movements.
Now the real story began. Suddenly from the dark corner, the demoness in form of a fairy maiden, with matching costume, appeared. They spoke no words and the way she looked at him in love stuck eyes, indicated that she way falling for him. The king was spurning her advances and all those eye movements and facial expressions of the dancers was indicative that it was not a love match. The demoness had come to harass the king by first enchanting him with her beauty and then entrapping him and take him as a prisoner to her abode.
Back and forth it continued until the king, cuts off her ears and nose, then the demoness reveals herself.
The story ended with demoness disappearing into the dark corner. The whole audiance erupted in an applause, so did I. It was a fun filled afternoon.
Because of its elaborate preparations and very specific costumes this form of dance and drama has not gained popularity beyond Kerala's border. In Kerala every major city or district has its training school and performance centers. I saw on their wall Photographs of Prince Charles, ex French President, Italian Ambassador etc. They had all come to witness the performance.
Outside the performance hall I started a chat with one of the manager of the performance, he illuminated me on the differences of the various dances. A similar dance, Kuchipuddi originated in Andhara Pradesh, and Bharat Natyam originated in Tamil Nadu. He thinks that Kathakali is king of all, but I do not think so. It's elaborate preparations make it a non starter elsewhere. The actor training lasts ten years, these are all male actors, which is another non starter. A woman in the demoness role Would probably enhance it further. But who am I to advise the masters, I should keep my mouth shut.
We climbed the stage and got ourselves photographed with the lead actor. Then we exited the studio hall. It was a successful day in Kerala.
Cheers
Hari
Kathakali (Men's only) dance is a four hundred years old dance-form which had official patron in the king of Travancore & Cochin or now Kerala. It is an elaborate ritual of face painting, expressions, dress code, foot movement etc. Kathakali is a dance, a - Katha or a story is related on the stage by - Kala or Kali by movements only. Why the male dancers only, I do not know, but I am sure there is a reason.
I must thank Surinder for his elaborate planning that I watched this show in Kochi or Cochin.
The state of Travancore & Cochin through the seven hundred years of Muslim rule of rest of India never came under their domination. Aurangzeb tried in 1670 but failed. Perhaps Keralites sword was sharper than the Mughal sword and before that all those sultanates which ruled South India from 1300s till Aurangzeb dealt a death blow to these Sultanates in 1670 timeframe also did not wish to tangle with Keralites. Having said that then, you may ask - why 25% of Keralites are Muslim? The reason behind it, is the spice trade which brought them in touch with Arabs, who converted the traders to Islam. The Arab brand of Islam which the traders brought to Kerala had no territorial ambition. Hence Kerala stayed independent, not until the British appeared on their gates in the eighteenth century. The British had much longer range guns and they managed to conquer Kerala same way as rest of India, but not without a fight. One Prime Minister of Kerala with name Velu Thampi lead a Rani Jhansi type revolt in 1807-09 AD and almost succeeded in beating the British, but the clever British found a fifth columnist and captured Thampi and hanged him.
Another 19% of Keralites are Christian. A similar reason exists which predates even Islam. St. Thomas and St Anthony, the Christian Apostles came to Kerala in second century AD onwards and brought the message of Christ. Having said that, the King never changed his religion. The political system stayed Hindu. The king built larger and larger temples, seminaries to balance the growth of both Islam and Christianity.
One of these king in 1600s after his victory over Moghul armies instituted a scholarship to develop the Kathakali art form. Some components of this dance existed before but it became a ritual dance form of Kerala after that.
The place we went to watch this dance is in the interior of this very clean city of Kochi. This dance form have existed in this location for over one hundred years. World dignitaries visit this humble location. Last to visit was Prince Charles in 2013. Countless others have visited it and watched the elaborate preparations and then the dance.
Two male actors in a dimly lit medium sized hall are sitting on a wooden stage and are painting their faces in absolute silence. Flash photography during preparations is forbidden. Flash disturbs their concentration. It takes, over three hours to paint their faces in a specific form as specified in the dance ritual. Their are about fifty to sixty chairs in the room, all are filled with foreigners except we four. They are clicking their cameras away without flash. One male actor is distinctly painting his face as a male and the other as a female for today's performance.
As I was learning more and more about the show, the show manager outside explained that today's performance is about a story from "Bhagwat Puran". In the story a demoness turns into a pretty maiden and tries to seduce the king with her advances. The king refuses all her advances and in the half way thru the show the demoness reveals her true form. The king in the end cuts off her nose and ears - so goes the story which I am about to witness in next 45 minutes on the stage with eyes movements, facial expressions and some foot movements.
First, one of the actor comes on the stage and tutors us, the audience, with 12 forms of expressing yourself with eye movements and then 18 or more forms of facial expressions expressing love, anger, pity and whatever other forms. These are everyday emotions which come naturally but we never sort of pay attention to them. This actor has mastered them. Every time the drum beat changed, he showed us another emotion. We clicked our cameras like nothing before. The actor did not speak a word, a commentary in the background explained the proceedings but the actor was following the drum beat for his own performance.
The drum beat changed and the main performance began. The narrator in the beginning related us the story as to what is going to happen next. Then the commentary stopped and drum beat guided the actor. The lead actor in form of an elaborated king and costume showed himself on the stage. Everybody in the audience clapped.
His kingly gate, his sword, elaborate costumes, his headgear, jewelry, and all that time spent for facial decorations indicated to the audiance that he is the king. We all clapped like hell. He continued his walk as if leisurely going thru his garden with various emotions and eye movements.
Now the real story began. Suddenly from the dark corner, the demoness in form of a fairy maiden, with matching costume, appeared. They spoke no words and the way she looked at him in love stuck eyes, indicated that she way falling for him. The king was spurning her advances and all those eye movements and facial expressions of the dancers was indicative that it was not a love match. The demoness had come to harass the king by first enchanting him with her beauty and then entrapping him and take him as a prisoner to her abode.
Back and forth it continued until the king, cuts off her ears and nose, then the demoness reveals herself.
The story ended with demoness disappearing into the dark corner. The whole audiance erupted in an applause, so did I. It was a fun filled afternoon.
Because of its elaborate preparations and very specific costumes this form of dance and drama has not gained popularity beyond Kerala's border. In Kerala every major city or district has its training school and performance centers. I saw on their wall Photographs of Prince Charles, ex French President, Italian Ambassador etc. They had all come to witness the performance.
Outside the performance hall I started a chat with one of the manager of the performance, he illuminated me on the differences of the various dances. A similar dance, Kuchipuddi originated in Andhara Pradesh, and Bharat Natyam originated in Tamil Nadu. He thinks that Kathakali is king of all, but I do not think so. It's elaborate preparations make it a non starter elsewhere. The actor training lasts ten years, these are all male actors, which is another non starter. A woman in the demoness role Would probably enhance it further. But who am I to advise the masters, I should keep my mouth shut.
We climbed the stage and got ourselves photographed with the lead actor. Then we exited the studio hall. It was a successful day in Kerala.
Cheers
Hari
No comments:
Post a Comment