Kathakali is one of the eight classical dance forms of India recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and it originated in the 17th century in the southern state of Kerala. The term combines katha (story) and kali (play or performance). It evolved from older ritual and martial traditions of Kerala — notably Ramanattam, devised under the patronage of Kottarakkara Thampuran (Raja of Kottarakkara) who composed the Ramanattam cycle on the Ramayana, and Krishnanattam, attributed to Manaveda, the Zamorin of Calicut, dealing with the life of Krishna. Kathakali also drew on Kerala's martial art Kalaripayattu for its rigorous body control and on Koodiyattam, the Sanskrit theatre tradition, for its codified gestural vocabulary. Its grammar is rooted in the Natya Shastra of Bharata and the Hastalakshana Deepika, the regional treatise governing hand gestures.
The performance is a synthesis of nritta (pure dance), nritya (expressive dance), and natya (drama). The actor-dancers do not speak or sing; instead, vocalists render the narrative while performers convey meaning through mudras (hand gestures), navarasa (the nine emotional states, with elaborate facial and eye movements), and stylised body movement. The accompanying music belongs to the Sopana Sangeetham tradition, and the principal instruments are the chenda and maddalam (drums), the chengila (gong), and elathalam (cymbals). The makeup, called chutti, is iconographic: Pacha (green) denotes noble heroic and divine characters, Kathi (knife) marks anti-heroes and arrogant kings such as Ravana, Thadi (beard — red, white, black) signifies varying ferocious or forest characters, Kari (black) denotes demonesses, and Minukku (radiant) marks women and sages. Themes are drawn overwhelmingly from the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and the Puranas.
In the 20th century, the poet Vallathol Narayana Menon revived and institutionalised Kathakali by founding the Kerala Kalamandalam in 1930 at Cheruthuruthy, which remains the foremost training institution. Notable exponents include Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair, Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair, and Kalamandalam Gopi. As of 2026 Kathakali continues both as a temple and stage art and as a recognised classical form supported by the Sangeet Natak Akademi and the Ministry of Culture, with international touring troupes and experimental productions adapting Shakespeare and other texts to its grammar.
For the UPSC examination, Kathakali appears in the Art and Culture component of General Studies Paper I (Prelims) and the Indian Heritage and Culture section of GS Paper I (Mains). Candidates must be able to distinguish it from Kerala's other forms — Mohiniyattam (the lasya, feminine classical dance) and Koodiyattam (the UNESCO-listed Sanskrit theatre) — and from Krishnanattam and Ramanattam, its precursors. Typical Prelims questions match dance forms to their states or test the green-faced Pacha makeup and the chenda drum; Mains questions ask candidates to trace the evolution of regional theatre traditions or to analyse state patronage in preserving classical arts. Knowing the role of Vallathol and the Kerala Kalamandalam is frequently rewarded.
Example
In 1930 the poet Vallathol Narayana Menon founded the Kerala Kalamandalam at Cheruthuruthy, reviving Kathakali as a living classical tradition after its decline under colonial patronage.
Frequently asked questions
Kathakali originates in Kerala. It evolved from Ramanattam, composed under the Raja of Kottarakkara, and Krishnanattam, attributed to the Zamorin Manaveda, and absorbed elements of Kalaripayattu and Koodiyattam.