Kathakali is a major form of classical Indian dance. It is a story-play genre of art, but one distinguished by the elaborately colourful make-up, costumes and face masks that the traditionally male actor-dancers wear.
Kathakali is a combination of dance, music, and acting which tells stories from the Indian epics and mythology, particularly from the two major Sanskrit epics: the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Kathakali is also known for its mudras, which are specific hand gestures used to convey emotions and ideas.