Kathakali makeup
The painted faces of Kathakali dance-drama of Kerala, whose colours show the type of character.
Also: vesham, chutti
Kathakali makeup, called vesham, takes hours. Colours follow character types: pacha (green) for noble heroes; kathi (knife) for proud villains, green with red marks; thadi (beard) in red, white or black; kari (black) for forest dwellers and demonesses; and minukku (radiant, yellow-orange) for women and sages. Many roles wear a chutti, a white frame built out from the jaw, once of rice paste and lime and now often of paper. The eyes are reddened for effect.