With colourful costumes, bold makeup, bolder emotions and a spellbinding storyline, Kathakali is an energetic and dramatic art form practiced for centuries in Kerala. And what better place to witness this regal, storied tradition than at Club Mahindra resorts in Kerala, namely Club Mahindra Thekkady and Club Mahindra Ashtamudi.

At its core, kathakali is a poetic, martial, dance-drama—with singing and musical accompaniment that is so exquisite people listen to the music as a stand-alone experience. It has been called “the art of the non-worldly” because it invites humans into the world of gods, demons, kings, and heroes. The acts usually adapt stories from Hinduism. It also takes its references and learning from the Natya Shastra, the ancient treatise on dance.

Kathakali is one of the major and most popular classical dance forms of India, easily identifiable through the green face paint worn by its practitioners. It is an ancient art and holds within itself traditions and culture that goes back centuries and is brought to like by dedicated dancers and musicians. Watch the performers put on their makeup and larger than life costumes assisted by an army of makeup artists and dressman. This is a show in itself and can last for hours before the real show begins.

Time flies as you watch a kathakali performance. The artists emote and express the chanted lyrics using their face, eyes and bodies backed by the melodious rhythmic beat of different types of drums and cymbals. With Club Mahindra, you can witness many such magnificent experiences across 100+ resorts in India and abroad! To know more about kathakali, read the Club Mahindra reviews and decide for yourself.