Kathakali Dance-Drama

<p><em>Kathakali Dance-Drama</em> provides a comprehensive introduction to the distinctive and colourful dance-drama of Kerala in South-West India for the first time. This landmark volume:<br> * explores Kathakali's reception as it reaches new audiences both in India and the west<br> * includes two cases of controversial of Kathakali experiments<br> * explores the implications for Kathakali of Keralan politics<br> During these performances heroes, heroines, gods and demons tell their stories of traditional Indian epics. The four Kathakali plays included in this anthology, translated from actual performances into English are:<br> * <em>The Flower of Good Fortune</em><br> * <em>The Killing of Kirmmira</em><br> * <em>The Progeny of Krishna</em><br> * <em>King Rugmamgada's Law</em><br> Each play has an introduction and detailed commentary and is illustrated by stunning photographs taken during performances. An introduction to Kathakali stage conventions, make-up, music, acting, and training is also provided, making this an ideal volume for both the specialist and non-specialist reader.</p> List of illustrations, Preface, Acknowledgments, 1 An ‘Ocean of Possibilities’, part I performance in the kerala context, part ii plays from the traditional repertory, part iii contested narratives: new plays, discourses, and contexts, Afterword: Whose Gods, and Whose Demons Dance?, Appendix: Kathakali Performances on Video, Notes, Bibliography and References Cited, Glossary and Table of Transliteration, Index