Heike Moser Bibliography of Kutiyattam

Recent Publications on Kerala Gesture Language

Paniker, Nirmala. Hand Gesture of Hastalakshanadeepika in Mohiniyattam. Irinjalakuda, Kerala: Natankairali, 2007.

This is the first published version of the Hastalakshanadipika with both a Devanagari and a Malayalam version of the text. Many lively colored photographs of female dancers and stick figures illustrate each gesture mentioned in the work. The stick figures and the method of explaining movement of the signs are borrowed from the book by G. Venu described below. Paniker is a well-known exponent of Mohiniyattam and has also published other important works on this genre of classical Indian dance.

Radhakrishna, Geeta. Mohiniattam Adavus and Mudras. Mumbai: MNK Charitable Trust, 2007 Revised Second Edition.

First published in 1991, Part II focuses on the sign system of Mohiniattam and contains a Devanagari version of the Hastalaksanadipika with English translation.

Szily, Eva. “Genese et mise en application d’une grammaire gestuelle dans les theatres Kutiyattam et Kathakali.” M. Phil. Written in French with a short monograph in English which is a translation of the Forward and Conclusion entitled, “Genesis and Application of Gesture Grammar in Kutiyattam and Kathakali.” 2003.

Sizly’s work on gesture in both genres of performance is based on many years of study in Kerala with noted artists of Kathakali and Kutiyattam.

Venu, G. The Language of Kathakali: Notations of 874 Hand Gestures. Irinjalakuda: Natan Kairali, 2000. The author has provided important information about the sign language which is used by Kutiyattam, Mohiniyattam, Krsnanattam, Tullal, as well as Kathakali. The work contains an English translation of the Hastalakshanadipika. It also uses a rather awkward system of notating the gestures meant for students to use when attempting to execute them.

Vijayakumar, Kalamandalam Barbara Vijayakumar and Kalamandalam Vijayakumar. Kathakali Mudras: The Ancient Sign Language of India. DVD. Southampton, UK, 2008.
www.kathakali.net

Although billed to focus on the sign language in Kathakali, a near relative of the Kutiyattam genre of performance, the DVD actually covers a wide range of sign systems in Kerala and elsewhere in India, with examples from performances in many genres, as well as examples of the use of signs in ritual and devotional activities. It is more than an hour of interesting material on the subject. A small booklet is provided with the DVD and a larger version of the same is also available.

Bibliography

Ayyangar, Narayana and Panchapagesa Nattuvanar. 1961. Abhinaya Navanita. 2nd ed., ed. V. Raghavan. Madras: Music Academy.

Balarama Varma and Karthika Tirumal. 1982. Balaramabharatam. Edited by V. S. Sharma. Trivandrum, Kerala: V. S. Sharma.

Bharata. 1967, 1961. Natyasastra. Translated and edited by Manmohan Ghosh. 2nd rev. ed. Vol. 1. Calcutta: Manisha Granthalaya; and Vol. 2., Calcutta: Asiatic Society.

Bhasa. 1968. Abhisekanatakam. Translated by Vidyaratna S. Rangachar. Mysore: Sanskrita Sahitya Sadana.

Cakyar, M. M. 1975. Natyakal padrumam. Cheruthuruthy, Kerala: Kerala Kalamandalam.

Candran, V. R. Krishna, comp. 1980–85. “Vidushakakuttu.” [from Subadhradhanamjaya] in Kshetradarsanam. Trichur, Kerala.

Chandran, Natyapraveen Girija. 1985. Bharata Natya Chintamani. Pts 1 and 2. Trivandrum, Kerala: R.S. Pillai.

Enros, Pragna Thakkar. 1981. “Producing Sanskrit Plays in the Tradition of Kutiyattam.” In: Sanskrit Drama in Performance, edited by Rachel Van M. Baumer and James R. Brandon. Honolulu: Univ. Press of Hawaii.

Fronval, George, and Daniel Dubois. 1985. Indian Signals and Sign Language. New York: Bonanza Books.

Gopinath, Natanakalanidhi. 1957. Abhinaya Prakasika. Madras: Natana Niketan Publications. Published in 1946 as Abhinayamkuram.

Induchudan, V. T. 1969. The Secret Chamber. Trichur, Kerala: Cochin Devaswom Board.

Janaki, S. S. 1991. “Abhinaya in Classical Sanskrit Drama (Natya).” Samskrita Ranga Annual 1988-90 9:25–45. ed.

1986. Mudralakshanam. Mayiladuturai, Tamil Nadu: International Institute of Saiva Siddhanta Research .

Jayanthi, C. K. 1993. “Mantrankam in Kutiyattam Theatre.” M. A. thesis, Calicut University.

Jones, Clifford R. 1967. “The Temple Theater of Kerala: Its History and Description.” Ph.D. diss., University of Pennsylvania.

1984. The Wondrous Crest-Jewel in Performance. Delhi: Oxford Univ. Press.

Kathakali. 1931. Trivandrum, Kerala: Archaeological Department.

Krishnakaimal, Aymanam. 1986. Kathakali Vijnanakosham. Kottayam, Kerala: Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society Ltd.

Kulasekhara Varma. 1912. The Subhadradhananjaya, edited by T. Ganapati Sastri. Trivandrum: Travancore Government Press.

“Kutiyattam.” 1995., Sangeet Natak Special Issue Nos. 111–114.

Kutiyattam Mahotsavam. 1995. New Delhi: Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Menon, K. P. Padmanabha. 1983. History of Kerala. 4 vols. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services.

Moag, Rodney F. 1986. Malayalam: A University Course and Reference Grammar. Ann Arbor: Center for South and Southeast Asian Studies, University of Michigan.

Murthi, T. R., and M. Jaimoni. 1982. Bharathanatya Prbadhini. Alleppey, Kerala: Swathi Thirunal Kalakshatram.

Nair, A. C. Krishnan. 1931. Kathakali. Nadapuram, Kerala: A.C. Krishnan Nair.

Nair, C. Padmanabhan. 1980. Kathakali Vesham: Part I. Trivandrum, Kerala: State Institute of Languages.

Nambiar, P. K. Narayanan. 1980. Manthrankam. Trichur, Kerala: Kerala Sahitya Akademi.

1984. Sreekrishnacharitham Nangyarammakkoothu. Cheruthuruthy, Kerala: Kerala Kalamandalam.

Nambisan, Tiruvangatta Narayana. 1926, 1958. Hastalakshanadipika. Reprint. Calicut, Kerala: K.R. Brothers.

Nambudiripad, P. Krishnan. 1962. “Kutiyattam.” M. Lit. thesis, Madras University.

Nampoothiry, E. Eswaran. 1983. “Balaramabharatam”: A Critique on Dance and Drama. Trivandrum: Kerala Samskritam Publications.

Nandikesvara. 1975. Abhinayadarpanam. Translated by Manomohan Ghosh. 3rd ed. Calcutta: Manisha Granthalaya.

Nayar, M. P. 1987. Natyamandapam. Calicut: Mathrabhumi.

Nayar, S. K. 1956. Kathakali Manjari. Madras: Government Oriental Manuscripts Library.

Panchal, Goverdhan. 1984. Kuttampalam and Kutiyattam, A Study of the Traditional Theatre for the Sanskrit Drama of Kerala. New Delhi: Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Pandeya, Gayanacharya Avinash C. 1961. The Art of Kathakali. Allahabad: Kitabistan.

Parmesvarabadratikal. n.d. “Vedamudral.” In Golden Jubilee Souvenir. Trichur, Kerala: B. M. V. Sangham.

Paulose, K. G. 1993. “Bhagavadajjukam, A Critical Study.” Ph.D. diss., Calicut University.

Pillai, G. Krishna. 1937. Kerala Nrthya Kala or Kathakali. Mavelikkara, Kerala: M. Devaki Amma.

1974. Kathakali. Kottayam: Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative.

Pillai, G. Ramakrishna. 1957. Kathakali. Trivandrum: University of Travancore.

Pillai, Pannisseril Nanu. 1956. Kathakaliprakaram. Kottayam: Sahithya Pravarthaka C.S. Ltd.

Pillai, Suranattu Kunjan, ed. 1957. Asoka Vanikankam Attaprakaram. Malayalam Series 95. Trivandrum: Kerala University.

Pisharoti, K. R. 1940. Nammute Drysyakala. Trichur: National Publishing House.

1967. Ascarya Cudamani. Trichur, Kerala: Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi.

Prem Kumar. 1948. The Language of Kathakali: A Guide to Mudras. Allahabad: Kitabistan.

Raghavan, M. D. 1947. Folk Plays and Dances of Kerala. Trichur, Kerala: Rama Varma Archaeological Society.

Raja, K. Kunjunni. 1964. Kutiyattam: An Introduction. New Delhi: Sangeet Natak Akademi.

1987. “Natankusa: A Goad on Actors.” Samskrita Ranga Annual 8:118–123.

Rajagopalan, L. S. 1968. “Music in Kootiyattam.” Sangeet Natak 10:12–35.

1974. “The Mizhavu.” Journal of the Music Academy of Madras.

1987. “Consecration of Kuttampalam.” The Samskrita Ranga Annual (Madras) 8: 22–40.

1988. “The Kurum Kuzhal of Kerala.” Sangeet Natak, April–June.

1990. “Wizard of the Eyes.” Sruti, pp. 17–22.

Rajendran, C. 1985. “Suktibhadra’s Ascaryacudamani, a Study.” M. A. thesis, Calicut University.

Ramachandran, K. V. 1950. “Music and Dance in Kalidasa.” Journal of Oriental Research 18 (2): 1–31.

Richmond, Farley. 1978. “The Rites of Passage and Kutiyattam.” Sangeet Natak 50, 27–36. and Yasmin Richmond. 1985. “Multiple Dimensions of Time and Space in Kutiyattam,” Asian Theater Journal 2 (1): 50–60.

Darius L. Swann, and Phillip B. Zarrilli. 1990. Indian Theatre: Traditions of Performance. Honolulu: Univ. of Hawaii Press.

Sarangadeva. 1975 and 1979. Sangitaratnakara . Translated by G. H. Tarlekar. Bombay: Maharastra Rajya Sahitya Sanskriti Mandal.

Satyavrathan, Aranmula, comp. 1967.Attaprakaram: Asoka Vanikankam. Kottayam, Kerala: K. Lekshmikutty, National Book Stall.

Saunders, E. Dale. 1960. Mudra, a Study of Symbolic Gestures in Japanese Buddhist Sculpture. New York: Pantheon Books.

Sarabhai, Mrinalini. 1975. Understanding Bharata Natyam. Baroda: Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda.

Saradatanaya. 1968. Bhavaprakasana. Edited by Yadugiri Yatiraja Swami and K. S. Ramaswami Sastri. Baroda: Oriental Institute.

Sarngadeva. 1975–1979. Sangitaratnakara. 2 vols. Bombay: Maharastra Rajya Sahitya Sanskriti Mandal.

Sowle, John Steven. 1982. “The Traditions, Training, and Performance of Kutiyattam, Sanskrit Drama in South India.” Ph.D. diss., University of California/Berkeley.

Staal, J. F. 1961. Nambudiri Veda Recitation. Hage: Mouton & Co.

Subhankara. 1959. The Hastamuktavali. Edited by Maheswar Neog. Madras: Journal of the Music Academy, 30 (1–4) 1–112.

Subrahmanyam, Padma. 1981. “The Natyasastra in the Tamil Soil.” Journal of the Music Academy 51:1–10.

Tarlekar, G. H. 1975. Studies in the Natyasastra. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.

Unni, N. P., and Bruce M. Sullivan, trans. 1995. “The Sun God’s Daughter and King Samvarana”: “Tapati–samvaranam” and the Kutiyattam Drama Tradition. Delhi: Nag Publishers.

Variar, Kadathanat K. Kunhunni. 1975. Kathakali Mudrasasthram. Trichur, Kerala: Kadathanat K. Kunhunni Variar.

Vatsyayan, Kapila. 1982. Dance in Indian Painting. New Delhi: Abhinav Publications.

Venu, G. 1977. Kathakaliyile Kaimudrakal. Trichur, Kerala: Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi.

1984. Mudras in Kathakali. Irinjalakuda, Kerala: Natana Kairali.

1989. Production of a Play in Kutiyattam. Trichur, Kerala: Natana Kairali.

Venu, G., and Nirmala Paniker. 1983. Mohiniyattam: attaprakaram with notations of mudras and postures. Trivandrum: G. Venu.

Zarrilli, Phillip. 1977. The Kathakali Complex: Actor, Performance, Structure. New Delhi: Abhinav Publications.

1987. “‘Where the Hand Is[…].'” Asian Theatre Journal. 4 (2):205–14.