Published Paper Details:

Kathaka?i, the traditional dance-drama form of Kerala contributes to the ras?nubhooti of sah?udaya-spectators through a unique combination of bh?va, r?ga, and t?la, in line with the instructions of classic texts on dance/dramaturgy such as the N??ya??stra, B?lar?bharatam, and Hastalak?a?a-d?pika. This is achieved through a blend of v?cika, ??gika, s?ttvika, and ?h?rya abhinayas (supported by t??a-me?a). A few examples of these based on the ???akkathas of Irayimman Thampi have been given. Using a variety of hand-gestures (mudras), looks (d?u??is), facial expressions (bh?vas), body-postures, and steps (kal??as), the actor invokes and develops a variety of rasas in sah?udayas (spectators). The spectators possessing the required knowledge of the sign-language of Kathaka?i, plot of the story, meaning of the verses, aesthetic sense and imagination, attain a state of tanmay?bh?va with the actor and experiences the rasas at their peak.