Portrait Of A Kathakali Dancer Opening His Eyes Wide, Kochi, India, 2008 (photo)

Kathakali has appeared during the 17th in the actual region of Kerala and is named after the Malayam words Katha (story) and Kali (play); this dance drama based on ancient Hindu epics such as the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Puranas, takes place traditionally in temples but, increasingly, it is possible to attend the ritual in theatre where a version of Kathakali adapted for tourists is played; Kathakali performance made by male actors is based on literature; music (percussions and drums like the Chenda); paintings which take hours and require concentration and ancestral know-how to be applied; highly decorated headpieces and meditation; the main focus of this art is the elaborate make-up code, each character has its nature to which corresponds a colour (green for the righteous, red for the evil, yellow for women and ascetics, black for forest dwellers); the Kathakali performers with their make-up and ceremonial dress portrayed gods, heroes or demons, following precise body-movements to convey the story on madras (hand gestures); the ceremony lasts several hours which requires a lot of training and muscle control from the actors