Kathakali performance traditionally lasted all night, from dusk when the opening drum call (keli) announced a performance to dawn when the closing verses and dance brought the performance to its ritual conclusion. The following chart describes a traditional performance structure. Approx Time Description 6.30 to 7.00 PM Announcement of Performance Kelikottu: Percussion announcement notifying the village that a performance will take place. 8.00 PM Ritual and Preliminaries 1. Kalivillakau: Lighting of the bronze oil lamp at the center stage. 2. Arangukeli: Percussion interlude: first section features the maddalam accompanied by the cymbals and then chenda 3. Todayam: First preliminary dance performed behind the hand held curtain. 4. Vandana slokas: Singing of the opening verses to further sanctify the performance. 5. Purppatu: Second preliminary dance or ‘going forth’. This dance traditionally features two dancers costumed as the two major characters in the play that follows. It is the prelude to the evening’s play. 6. Melappadam: Vocal and percussion composition in which the drummers and vocalists display their artistic skills. The vocal portion lasts approximately 45-60 minutes as verses from Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda are sung. In the final section the drummers perform a complex and competitive structured improvisation. 10.00 PM Performance of Text The story begins. The opening scenes are quiet and very slow but technically most difficult to act. The love scene which appears at the beginning of most plays does not necessarily have a bearing on the story: It is intended to stress the importance of sringrara rasa and to enable the actor to display his virtuosity. As the night goes on, the action gets faster and faster until the final scenes just before dawn bring the performance to an end with loud drumming and great excitement, usually with fierce fighting and the killing of demons. 5.00 to 6.30 AM Closing Verses The ritual conclusion of the performance is invoked through the singing of the final set of verses and dancing a brief concluding dance (dhanasi).
