Title : Kathakali Styled Ravana
Accession No : 53/22/1
Painted figure of Kathakali dancer depicting Ravana. Ravana is shown in a traditional Kathakali attire in a dancing posture. The figure is ornamental. The figure is supported by a small pedestal with title inscribed in English 'RAVANA'.
Gallery
Provenance
- StateKerala
Condition
- ConditionAverage
- Action NoteCNR
Dimensions
- Measurement (CMS)37 x 19.5 x 15.5
- Weight (GRMS)0.00
Significance
- ReligiousRavana is a rakshasa (a demonic creature in Hindu mythology). king of the island of Lanka, and the chief antagonist of the Hindu epic Ramayana and its adaptations. In the Ramayana, Ravana is described to be the eldest son of sage Vishrava and rakshasi Kaikesi. He abducted Prince Rama's wife Sita and took her to his kingdom of Lanka, where he held her in the Ashok Vatika. Later, Rama, with the support of vanara King Sugriva and his army of vanaras, launched an invasion against Ravana in Laka and Rama rescued his wife Sita.
- ArtisticKathakali’, an important genre in the Indian classical dance form, is associated with storytelling form of this art. It is the dance drama from the south Indian state of Kerala. Author Phillip Zarrilli mentions that the basic components and distinct features of this form of classical dance can be traced back to ancient Sanskrit Hindu text called ‘Natya Shastra’, a text on the performing arts written by the sage Bharata Muni, an Indian theatrologist and musicologist. Kathakali is typically structured around ‘Attakatha’ meaning the story of attam or dance. ‘Attakatha’ are plays that were historically derived from Hindu epics like ‘Bhagavata Purans’, ‘Mahabharata’ and ‘Ramayana’.
Description
- DescriptionPainted figure of Kathakali dancer depicting Ravana. Ravana is shown in a traditional Kathakali attire in a dancing posture. The figure is ornamental. The figure is supported by a small pedestal with title inscribed in English 'RAVANA'.
- Inscription/Markings Yes
- ReferenceJain, Jyotindra; Aggarwala, Aarti (1989). National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum, New Delhi. Ahmedabad: Mapin Pub. ISBN 978-0-944142-23-3.
- KeywordKathakali, Dancer, Performance, Ravana, Mythology, Epic, Ramayana, Figurative, Art