"It is art perfected the most marvellous manifestation of the artistic impulses in man. There is nothing like it to interpret human sentiment, thoughts and emotions. The language of the limbs, hands, muscles and eyes is more powerful than spoken words. Graceful and telling, the effect is realistic. It is a vast mine, the plentiful resources of which remain yet to be tapped."

This is what the foremost Indian dancer Uday Shankar had remarked about the beautiful dance form of Kathakali.

The history of Kathakali is rich, pregnant with its copious tradition. It can be said that the dance form has certainly not emerged in one day but is a result of continuous effort, an account of changing tradition. The indigenous Dravidians of Kerala were worshippers of Bhagvati, the Earth-Mother goddess, and also worshipped the snakes. Later, after the Nambudris` supremacy had been established, the custom of each household actually set apart a small grove in the compound for the habitation of snakes. These snake groves are common even today and are said to protect the household. This adoration of snakes resulted in one of the oldest dance-forms of Kerala - the Pampin Tullal or the dance of the snakes. An important centre for the worship of snakes is Mannarsala, where special snake-dance festivals are held. These dances are of Dravidian origin. All these were early influences, which helped towards creating the climate for the composite art of Kathakali. The Kathakali dance uses fantastic costumes, masks or make-up that are the representation of super-human beings to be associated with an extravagant appearance.

The history of Kathakali unveils the fact that the dance form is indeed the result of fusion between the pre-Aryan Dravidian dances and the later ones were introduced by the Brahmins. It combines the consciousness, the religious practices and the techniques of these two cultural streams in perfect harmony and balance. The history of Kathakali dance is the saga of an ever changing tradition. The coming of the Brahmins resulted in the inevitable changes in the Kathakali dance, which always occur with the arrival of unfamiliar elements. Eventually, they combined with the culture of the Dravidians, the sophistication of the Aryans. When the Nayars migrated to Kerala they exerted their influence on the traditional skill and training techniques of Kathakali. Even today the exponents of Kathakali are mostly Nayars.

The rich history of Kathakali also points out the fact that the external influences had an impact in the development of the Kathakali dance form. The Aryan influences on Kathakali introduced art forms codified and embodied in the Sanskrit shastras of the Brahmins. They propagated and kept alive the wisdom of the Gods and were in the form of stories and legends. These sacred texts were recited in the temples, which were prohibited to the lower castes. This form of recitation was known as Chakkiyar-kuttu, because the orator belonged to the Chakkiyar caste. The Chakkiyars declare their descent from the Sutas of the Mahabharata.

With the development of this dance form, Abhinaya became an integral part of this dance form. The history of Kathakali shows that abhinaya indeed played an important role which later aided Kathakali in attaining today`s chic contour. It is with this changing tradition, in Kathakali Nritta or pure dance is ideally gelled with Lasya and rasa to delineate the art form.

Kathakali had flourished long in Kerala under Royal Patronage. The Maharaja of Travancore was a patron of various troupes of Kathakali actors who carried on the remarkable art. The king maintained a Royal Troupe of talented Kathakali actors who used to perform on various special occasions. Kathakali reached its highest watermark during the period of 1758-98. Maharaja Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma (1847-60) a renounced patron of Kathakali first organised a full-fledged Palace Troupe to serve as a pattern for the rest of Malabar.

Kathakali which was until yesterday a dying had been revived by Mahakavi Vallathol a poet of Malabar. Presently many students from the East and West gather in the Kerala Kala Mandalam. Thus it can be said that Kathakali has a long and rich history and at the same time has maintained a steady tradition.