Kerala's performing arts are not museum pieces: families who have done it for generations still perform them every year. This class tells you what the words point to. Kathakali, the story-play told with hands and face, with its codified മുദ്ര gestures, the nine emotional states and the make-up types that identify a character before a word is sung. Mohiniyattam, the slow solo dance. Koodiyattam, very probably the oldest continuously performed theatre on earth, where a single verse can take hours. Ottan Thullal, the sharp-tongued satire of the common people, and Kalaripayattu, the martial art trained in an earthen pit. Words and phrases in this class: കഥകളി (kathakali) – Kathakali, the story-play മുദ്ര (mudra) – hand gesture നവരസങ്ങൾ (navarasangal) – the nine emotional states പച്ച (pacha) – green make-up for noble heroes കത്തി (kathi) – knife make-up for proud villains താടി (thaadi) – beard make-up for fierce characters മിനുക്ക് (minukku) – polished make-up for women and sages മോഹിനിയാട്ടം (mohiniyaattam) – dance of the enchantress സെറ്റ് മുണ്ട് (settu mundu) – the white and gold Kerala costume കൂടിയാട്ടം (koodiyaattam) – Koodiyattam, ancient Sanskrit theatre ഓട്ടൻതുള്ളൽ (ottanthullal) – solo satirical dance-narration കളരിപ്പയറ്റ് (kalarippayattu) – Kerala's martial art കളരി (kalari) – earthen training ground In this class: • Kathakali: the hand gestures, the nine emotional states and the make-up code • Mohiniyattam, the slow solo dance • Koodiyattam and its unusual treatment of time • Ottan Thullal's satire and the Kalaripayattu training ground Quizzes below. Dr. Reshmi R Nair — SpeakMalayalam.