💃 Chapter 06 · Topic 05 · Classical Dance
Kathakali & Sattriya
Kathakali — Kerala, elaborate costumes and makeup, facial expressions; Sattriya — Assam, Vaishnavite monasteries — complete UPSC & PSC notes.
🎭 Kathakali
- Classical dance-drama form of Kerala
- Name: Katha (story) + Kali (performance/play) = “story-play”
- Developed in the 17th century CE; evolved from earlier Kerala traditions — Krishnanattam and Ramanattam
- Performed exclusively by men (including female roles) — traditionally
- Themes: stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavata Purana; good vs evil
- Performed at night, outdoors, by torchlight (traditionally)
- Training takes 8–10 years — one of the most demanding classical dance forms
- Key exponents: Kalamandalam Gopi, Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair, Mrinalini Sarabhai
🎨 Kathakali — Elaborate Makeup (Chutti)
Kathakali is famous for its extraordinary makeup system, which transforms performers into mythological characters:
| Makeup Type | Colour | Characters |
|---|---|---|
| Pachcha (Green) | Green face | Noble heroes — Rama, Krishna, Arjuna, Nala; virtuous characters |
| Kathi (Knife) | Green with red streaks on nose | Villainous heroes — Ravana, Duryodhana; arrogant characters |
| Thadi (Beard) — Red | Red beard | Evil characters — Dussasana, demons; extremely villainous |
| Thadi — White | White beard | Hanuman and monkey characters |
| Thadi — Black | Black beard | Hunters, forest dwellers, tribal characters |
| Kari (Black) | Black face | Female demons (Surpanakha), evil female characters |
| Minukku | Yellowish, natural | Female characters, sages, Brahmins; gentle characters |
⭐ Kathakali Facial Expressions (Navarasas): Kathakali performers are trained to express all nine rasas (emotions) through highly stylised facial expressions. The eyes are particularly important — performers train for years to control eye movements independently. The white of the eye is made more visible by applying a seed (chundappoo) under the eyelid, which causes the eye to redden dramatically. This creates a striking visual effect during performances.
💃 Sattriya
- Classical dance form of Assam
- Originated in the Vaishnavite monasteries (Satras) of Assam, founded by the saint-reformer Srimanta Shankardev in the 15th–16th century CE
- Shankardev used dance, music, and drama (Ankiya Nat) as tools for spreading Vaishnavism among the people of Assam
- Traditionally performed by male monks (Bhokots) within the Satra premises as part of religious practice
- Recognised as the 8th classical dance by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2000
- Themes: stories of Krishna and Rama from the Bhagavata Purana; Ankiya Nat (one-act plays by Shankardev)
- Costume: distinctive white dhoti and white chadar (upper garment); paguri (turban)
- Music: Borgeet (devotional songs composed by Shankardev and Madhavdev); khol (drum) and taal (cymbals)
- Key exponents: Indira P.P. Bora, Anwesa Mahanta
📌 Srimanta Shankardev (1449–1568): The greatest cultural figure of Assam. He founded the Eka Sharana Dharma (one-God devotion) movement and established Satras (Vaishnavite monasteries) across Assam. He composed Borgeet (devotional songs), Ankiya Nat (one-act plays), and Ojapali (narrative singing). He is credited with creating Sattriya dance as a medium for religious instruction. His influence on Assamese culture, language, and religion is comparable to that of Kabir and Mirabai in North India.
✅ Revision Checklist — Kathakali & Sattriya
✅ Kathakali = Kerala = “story-play” = 17th century = dance-drama
✅ Kathakali = performed by men = elaborate makeup (chutti) = 8–10 years training
✅ Pachcha = green = noble heroes (Rama, Krishna)
✅ Kathi = green + red streaks = villainous heroes (Ravana)
✅ Kari = black = female demons
✅ Minukku = yellowish = female characters, sages
✅ Sattriya = Assam = Vaishnavite Satras = Srimanta Shankardev (15th–16th century)
✅ Sattriya = 8th classical dance = recognised by SNA in 2000
✅ Sattriya = traditionally male monks (Bhokots) = white costume
✅ Borgeet = devotional songs by Shankardev = used in Sattriya
✅ Ankiya Nat = one-act plays by Shankardev = basis of Sattriya
✅ Kathakali = performed by men = elaborate makeup (chutti) = 8–10 years training
✅ Pachcha = green = noble heroes (Rama, Krishna)
✅ Kathi = green + red streaks = villainous heroes (Ravana)
✅ Kari = black = female demons
✅ Minukku = yellowish = female characters, sages
✅ Sattriya = Assam = Vaishnavite Satras = Srimanta Shankardev (15th–16th century)
✅ Sattriya = 8th classical dance = recognised by SNA in 2000
✅ Sattriya = traditionally male monks (Bhokots) = white costume
✅ Borgeet = devotional songs by Shankardev = used in Sattriya
✅ Ankiya Nat = one-act plays by Shankardev = basis of Sattriya