Prelude to a Kathakali recital - Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri

An interview with Nelliyode Vasudevan Namboodiri, shares his experience as a Kathakali Artist. Nelliyodu Vasudevan Namboodiri is widely acclaimed as the most talented of Kathakali artistes to present the chuvanna thaadi vesham (read bearded character), the most terrifying of Kathakali characters.

Sharing here is the introductary activities of a Kathakali recital and he says that it starts from the rhythmic drumming of Maddalam Keli (opening announcement of the performance ) then Thodayam – ritualistic dance performed prior to Kathakali performance, then the singers will recite Vandana slokam (prayer verses invoking the deities) and is immediately succeeded by Purappadu (which literally mean going forth and is another piece of dance and part of extensive performance preliminaries) and is followed by the original Kathakali play.