Kathakali Indian Dance Drama

Kathakali provides a unique opportunity to experience internationally acclaimed performers of the traditional South Indian dance/theater form in four intimate performances co-produced with Graeme Vanderstoel.

Thursday, October 17, 2019: 7:30pm
“The Forest Hunter” – Kalamadalam Manoj as the hunter. The most exotic character in Kathakali explores the forest with mime and great humor.

Friday, October 18: 7:30pm
“The Hunter and the Princess” – Kalamandalam Manoj as the hunter; Roshni Pillai as the Princess. Abandoned by Prince Nala, Princess Damayanthi is discovered asleep in the forest.

Saturday, October 19: 7:30pm
“The Golden Swan and the Princess” – Kalamandalam Manoj as the Swan; Roshni Pillai as the Princess; Janhavi Pillai as her Maid. The Prince Nala has heard of the great beauty of Princess Damayanti and has sent the Golden Swan to tell her of his love.

Sunday, October 20: 3:00pm
To be followed by a reception for the artists and a special event
“The Golden Swan and the Princess” Kalamandalam Manoj as the Swan; Roshni Pillai as the Princess; Jan Zeitlin as the Maid. The Prince Nala has heard of the great beauty of Princess Damayanti and has sent the Golden Swan to tell her of his love.

What is Kathakali

Kathakali is a major form of classical Indian dance. It is a “story play” genre of art, but one distinguished by the elaborately colorful make-up, costumes and face masks that the traditionally male actor-dancers wear. Kathakali is a Hindu performance art in the Malayalam-speaking southwestern region of India (Kerala).

The traditional themes of the Kathakali are folk mythologies, religious legends and spiritual ideas from the Hindu epics and the Puranas. The vocal performance has traditionally been performed in Sanskritised Malayalam. In modern compositions, Indian Kathakali troupes have included women artists, as well as adapted Western stories and plays such as those by Shakespeare.

Performers:

Kalamandalam Manoj
Roshni Pillai
Janhavi Pillai
Jan Zeitlin

Kalamandalam Manojkumar

Born in 1967 to Karunakaran Nair and Janaki Amma in Kuttikkattu Veettil, Manoj joined Kalamandalam as a student after his primary education. He trained as an actor in the Thekkan Chitta (Southern Style) of Kathakali and was taught by legendary artists of 1970 Kalamandalam Rajasekharan and Kalamandalam Prasanna Kumar at the Kalamadalam Academy of Performing Arts. After completing his training, he is presently active in the Kathakali circuit as an unaffiliated artiste adept in both the Thekkan and Vadakkan (Southern and Northern) styles of Kathakali. He has also shown his prowess as a writer, choreographer and stage actor.

With support of SACHI (Society for Art and Cultural Heritage of India)