THE TRAINING of KATHAKALI

THE TRAINING: KATHAKALI
The training of a Kathakali actor begins at an early age when young boys leavetheir homes to dedicate the entire lives to Kathakali.The rigorous training necessary for a Kathakali actor begins at 4.00am with eyeand facial exercises followed with body exercises and the learning of theKathakali plays.
In the monsoon season the actors undergo a daily painful session, whichinvolves body exercises followed by a special oil massage, called Urachil. Thismakes the actor supple and physically prepared for the characters that he willeventually have to portray on stage.
There is a saying that summarises the Kathakali acting technique….
“Where the hands move, there the eyes follow,Where the eyes move the mind follows.Where the mind goods, the mood followswhere the mood goes, there the Rasa [flavour] arises.”
DRUMMERS, SINGERS, MAKE UP ARTISTS AND COSTUMERS all undergoyears of specialised training guided by a Guru – Ashan. Eventually they willperform as a complex team of experts each brining their own specialistcontribution to the performance.