Kathakali Plays In English

 

Volume One: Tales from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Twelve plays based on stories found in the two great Indian Epics, stories that up until today influence the thought and guide the behaviour of the Indian people. More...

Volume Two: Daksha Yaga and Nala Charita. 

Daksha Yaga (The Sacrifice of Daksha), a long play, portrays god Siva’s wrath and compassion and arouses the full gamut of human emotions.


Nala Charita (The Story of Nala) comprises four full-night plays about the love of King Nala and Princess Damayanti--love in anticipation, consummation, separation and reconciliation. mORE...

Volume Three: Tales of the Pandavas and Other Great Kings. Five plays depicting the activities of the five noble Pandava princes, heroes of the Mahabharata, and their wicked cousins, the Kaurava princes, in the battle of good and evil that is the theme of that epic poem.  Two plays that further illustrate the conflicting claims of desire and duty in King Rugmangada and King Ambarisha. Addendum, Karnasapatham, similar theme. more...

Volume Four: Tales from the Bhagavata Purana. Seven plays that bring to life episodes in the life of the much-loved Hindu deity, Lord Krishna, incarnation of god Vishnu, based on stories found in the Bhagavata Purana.  One play based on another story found there—of Lord Narasimha, the man-lion incarnation of Vishnu.  Two more plays, Kacha Devayani and Harischandra Charita, that illustrate the perennial conflict between right conduct and truthfulness versus desire and distraction from duty. more...

Volume One Plays


Ravanodbhava

Ravana Vijaya

Bali Vijaya

Sita Swayamvara

Bali Vadha

Torana Yudha

Pattabhisheka

Lavanasura Vadha

Baka Vadha

Kirata

Kalyana Saugandhika

Kichaka Vadha



Volume Two Plays


Daksha Yaga

Nala Charita, First Day

Nala Charita, Second Day

Nala Charita, Third Day

Nala Charita, Fourth Day

Location of Kathakali Plays by Volume

Volume Three Plays


Rajasuya

Kirmira Vadha

Kalakeya Vadha

Uttara Swayamvara

Duryodhana Vadha

Rugmangada Charita

Ambarisha Charita

Addendum: Karnasapatham



Volume Four Plays


Prahlada Charita

Poothana Moksha

Rugmini Swayamvara

Subhadra Harana

Narakasura Vadha

Bana Yuddha

Kuchela Vritta

Santana Gopala

Kacha Devayani

Harischandra Charita