Since Western audiences are enchanted by this colourful art form, are the critics not right?
Tell me, who will promote Chinese literature but the Chinese? Who will promote Indian art forms but the Indians? But we have to tell the Western audience who are enchanted by the colour that there is a lot more to Kathakali and than its colour and form. There is a lot of difference between creating something only with an intention to sell it and showing what already exists without any bias and with honesty. I think we need an ability to question even what is considered as the truth, and not an ability to question anything blindly. Why do you think Kathakali has not reached the ordinary public? Because nobody has explained the intricacies of this art form to them. We still do not have a deeper knowledge of Kathakali, we know to view it very superficially only. I feel we also have to learn and understand more about this art form. Shaji Karun. Click for bigger pic! Which is the area that is not understood by the ordinary public, the visual part or the language of the art form? Yes, we do
