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Synopsis Kathakali is very elaborate, specific and well defined in its make-up technique and costume designing. Tremendous importance is attached to facial expressions and hand gestures. This classical form is spectacular, colourful, exaggerated and larger-than life. Here, each artiste plays a specific role. Kathakali has different character types--hero, anti-hero, villain, good man etc. Each character type has a different face colour, face attachment (chutti), crown and costume.

Kuchipudi performances are a sequence of items of varying duration. They bring out a range of themes and are aptly interspersed with brilliant pure dance sequences. Of these, the Tharangam is most important. In this item, the artiste dances on a brass plate, sometimes even balancing a brass pot with water. A well-trained dancer can move all through the stage on the plate and perform a range of movements, leaving the audience truly wonder struck.

This book gives a detailed and complete picture of both these amazing and unique classical performing arts of the country.