Kathakali classical art form of Kerala

Kathakali is an aesthetic blend of literature, music, gesticulation, dance and musical instruments. It is the visual expression of a poetic composition and is a pantomime in which the performers neither speak nor sing, but interpret the emotions through the medium of gestures, hand poses and vibrant facial expressions. The characteristic features of this dance are intricate facial make-up, distinctive headgear and costumes. A unique feature of Kathakali is the exclusive use of percussion instruments. The stories are usually derived from the epics and purāna-s. This paper mainly focuses on the eight sections of kathakali and other various aspects of Kathakali like Abhinayam, Sāhityam, Sangītam and Vādyam.