Kerala Natanam

Kerala Natanam is a new style of dancing evolved from Kathakali.The Indian dancer Guru Gopinath developed and stylised this dance by blending Indian dance Ccassicism and modernism. It is a popular dance upholding the universality of Indian hand gestures as language of communication, and abhinaya (acting).

Related Topics:
Kathakali - Guru Gopinath - Abhinaya

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Guru Gopinath, the mentor of this dance, was a trained Kathakali artist. He tried to develop a new style without losing its charm and classicism. A major difference from Kathakali is the change in the costumes and music.

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It accepts the amgika abhinaya - body movements and gestures -in toto from Kathakali and Natyashasthra. The elements of satvika abhinaya - facial expressions ans emotions - are fine-tuned to fit to the need of the modern theatre with electric lighting. The scope for stage movements doubled.

Related Topics:
Amgika abhinaya - Natyashasthra - Satvika abhinaya - Electric lighting

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There is a significance deviation in the aharya abhinaya (costumes and make up. Kerala natanam does not use a set dress code, but assumes a suitable dress for the character(s) presented. In a dance on Jesus Christ the dancer dress up like Christ. In social dances the artists wear the dress of labourers, peasants, folk etc. Likewise roles of Srikrishna, king, snake charmer hunter have suitable attire. This makes Kerala Natanam more communicative and accessible to viewers who have no knowledge about it.

Related Topics:
Aharya abhinaya - Srikrishna - Snake charmer

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While Kathakali follows the sopana style of music, Kerala Natanam shifted to pure karnatic music. But it allows any Indian or western musical instrument like violin, sitar, harmonium, flute sarang or tabla, while also popularising Kerala instruments like the chenda, mrudamgam, ilaththalam, itakka and others.

Related Topics:
Sopana - Karnatic music - Violin - Sitar - Harmonium - Flute sarang - Tabla - Chenda - Mrudamgam - Ilaththalam - Itakka

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