A Kathakali play: Kalyanasougandhikam

A two-hour performance of one of the great plays in Kathakali, Kalyanasougandhikam, an excerpt from the Mahabharata. The story is about Bheema who, on the request of his wife Panchali, goes into the forest in search of the intoxicatingly fragrant Sougandhika flower. In the forest he encounters Hanuman in the guise of an old monkey, whose true identity is gradually revealed to him... This video has optional subtitles in English for the benefit of non-Malayalam speakers. The subtitles translate the lyrics of the songs as well as interpreting the codified hand gestures and facial expressions of the actors through the performance. To access the subtitles, click on the “CC“ icon at the bottom right of the video window. Enjoy.