5130 x 3420 px | 43,4 x 29 cm | 17,1 x 11,4 inches | 300dpi
Aufnahmedatum:
24. September 2009
Weitere Informationen:
The language of the songs used for Kathakali is Manipravalam. Even though most of the songs are set in ragas based on the microtone-heavy Carnatic music, there is a distinct style of plain-note rendition, which is known as the Sopanam style. This typically Kerala style of rendition takes its roots from the temple songs which used to be sung (continues even now at several temples) at the time when Kathakali was born. Recently, as part of attempts to further popularise the art, stories from other cultures and mythologies, such as those of Mary Magdalene from the Bible, Homer's Iliad, and William Shakespeare's King Lear and Julius Caesar besides Goethe's Faust too have been adapted into Kathakali scripts and on to its stage. The main facial expressions of a Kathakali artist are the 'navarasams' (Navarasas in anglicised form) (literal translation: Nine Tastes, but more loosely translated as nine feelings or expressions) which are Sringaram (amour), Hasyam (ridicule, humour), Bhayanakam (fear), Karunam (pathos), Roudram (anger, wrath), Veeram (valour), Beebhatsam (disgust), Adbhutam (wonder, amazement), Shantam (tranquility, peace). The link at the end of the page gives more details on Navarasas. Kathakali is considered to be a combination of five elements of fine art: * Expressions (Natyam, the component with emphasis on facial expressions) * Dance (Nritham, the component of dance with emphasis on rhythm and movement of hands, legs and body) * Enactment (Nrithyam, the element of drama with emphasis on "mudras", which are hand gestures) * Song/vocal accompaniment (Geetha) * Instrument accompaniment (Vadyam) Even though the lyrics/literature would qualify as another independent element called Sahithyam, it is considered as a component of Geetha or music, as it plays only a supplementary role to Nritham, Nrithyam and Natyam.
