Archive · 17 Aug 2025
Kathakali Maestro Discusses Art Form's Evolution and Significance
Kathakali is a special type of storytelling using dance that comes from India.
A famous dancer named Renjish Nair talked about it.
He said Kathakali uses faces, hand movements, costumes, and music to tell exciting stories from long ago.
It's like a play without words, where the way the actors look and move is very important.
Kathakali is becoming more popular, and it's changing to include new ideas.
The dancer's teacher always told him to be himself, and not just copy others.
Kathakali is for everyone who loves dance, and the costumes and makeup help tell the stories in the best way possible.
Renjish Nair, a Kathakali maestro, performed at NCPA Mumbai in June as part of a series celebrating Indian classical dance forms.
He discussed Kathakali's history, its male-dominated past, and the importance of makeup and costume.
Nair believes Kathakali is evolving, embracing modern elements while staying true to its traditions.
He advises audiences to focus on expressions, hand gestures, and music to appreciate Kathakali.
Nair's guru's advice was to bring your own uniqueness to Kathakali, not just imitate others.
- Who
- Renjish Nair, a Kathakali maestro, and disciple of Kalashree Kalamandalam C. Gopalakrishnan.
- What
- Kathakali is a classical dance-drama from Kerala, rooted in temple traditions.
- When
- The Kathakali performance discussed took place in June.
- Where
- The performance was held at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Mumbai.
- Why
- To introduce Kathakali's rich history and evolution, and to celebrate its cultural significance.
Traditionalists
Modernists
Tradition vs. Modernization
Traditionalists
Emphasize the preservation of traditional elements like makeup, costume, and grooming, considering them integral to the art form.
Modernists
Believe in adapting Kathakali with modern elements to attract contemporary audiences.
- Artiste
- Renjish Nair
- Performance Venue
- NCPA, Mumbai
- Dance form origin
- Kerala
- Guru
- Kalashree Kalamandalam C. Gopalakrishnan
- Notable role model
- Late Padmabhushan Dr. Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair