In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (natya)

Facial Masks are traditionally painted with a mixture of oil and stone dust, in the Kutiyattam type of theater of Kerala.—In the Kūṭiyaṭṭam as well as in Kathakalī, the face mask is seen to be painted. In this process, different kinds of stone with red, green, yellow, blue and black colours are crushed to make powder and then it is filtered. After that, sulphur and an oily substance which is generally the coconut oil in most of the time, are mixed with the stone dust to make a paste by which the facial masks are painted. It looks like a mask, but it does not create any difficulty to the actors in giving facial expressions. The facial make-over of the characters of Kūṭiyaṭṭam and Kathakalī has been categorised as Minnuku, Pachcha, Kathi, Tadi (three varieties), and Kari according to the taste of an individual actor and the school of tradition to which it belongs.

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Mask.

Full-text: Pachcha, Karin, Kathi, Tadi, Minnuku.

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Search found 1 books and stories containing Facial mask; (plurals include: Facial masks). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Vishnudharmottara Purana (Art and Architecture) (by Bhagyashree Sarma)

1. The Viṣṇudharmottara-purāṇa and Modern Drama < [Chapter 6 - Modern Relevance of Different Art Forms and Architecture]

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