Stepping into a male bastion

With their entry, it’s curtains for a 90-year-old, male-only tradition at the Kalamandalam.

KOCHI, Kerala, 16/07/2022: Arya and Akshaya practicing Mudras (hand gestures) during their early morning sadhakam session which starts at 5am with Kalmandalam Mukundan. Photo : Thulasi Kakkat/The Hindu Kalamandalam Female Kathakali Students - Photo Feature for Frontline.

KOCHI, Kerala, 16/07/2022: Arya and Akshaya practicing Navarasa-s (nine basic emotions) during their early morning sadhakam session which starts at 5am. Photo : Thulasi Kakkat/The Hindu Kalamandalam Female Kathakali Students - Photo Feature for Frontline.

KOCHI, Kerala, 16/07/2022: Arya and Akshaya practicing Kannusadhakam (eye exercises) during their morning sadhakam session which starts at 5am. Photo : Thulasi Kakkat/The Hindu Kalamandalam Female Kathakali Students - Photo Feature for Frontline.

KOCHI, Kerala, 16/07/2022: Boy students undergoing vigorous chavutti uzhichil which starts at 4am in the morning. Photo : Thulasi Kakkat/The Hindu Kalamandalam Female Kathakali Students - Photo Feature for Frontline.

KOCHI, Kerala, 6/07/2022: First ever girl kathakali students of Kerala Kalamandalam infront of Kalamandalam Koothambalam. Photo : Thulasi Kakkat/The Hindu Kalamandalam Female Kathakali Students - Photo Feature for Frontline.

KOCHI, Kerala, 09/02/2019: Expressing a tale Maestro Kalamandalam Gopi, who plays the character of Nala from the Kathakali classic “Nalacharitham”, getting ready to perform 'Moonnaam divasam' (the third day of the play) at TDM Hall in Kochi on February 09, 2019. PHOTO: Thulasi Kakkat

KOCHI, Kerala, 16/07/2022: Arya, Akshaya, Swetha and Durgha girl Kathakali students of Kerala Kalamandalam during the morning sadhakam session with Kalamandalam Mukundan. Photo : Thulasi Kakkat/The Hindu Kalamandalam Female Kathakali Students - Photo Feature for Frontline.

KOCHI, Kerala, 16/07/2022: Arya, Akshaya, Swetha and Durgha girl Kathakali students of Kerala Kalamandalam during the 'Thodayam Purapadu' session with Kalamandalam Mukundan. Photo : Thulasi Kakkat/The Hindu Kalamandalam Female Kathakali Students - Photo Feature for Frontline.

KOCHI, Kerala, 16/07/2022: Girl students along with boy students waiting to start their 'Thodayam Purapadu' class Vadakkan Kalari. Photo : Thulasi Kakkat/The Hindu Kalamandalam Female Kathakali Students - Photo Feature for Frontline.

KOCHI, Kerala, 16/07/2022: Arya, Akshaya, Swetha and Durgha girl Kathakali students of Kerala Kalamandalam during the 'Thodayam Purapadu' session with Kalamandalam Mukundan. Photo : Thulasi Kakkat/The Hindu Kalamandalam Female Kathakali Students - Photo Feature for Frontline.

KOCHI, Kerala, 16/07/2022: Devananda, Krishnapriya and Vaishnavi practicing ‘ Thodayam Purappadu’ at Thekkan Kalari along with oy students. Photo : Thulasi Kakkat/The Hindu Kalamandalam Female Kathakali Students - Photo Feature for Frontline.

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Krishnapriya, who belongs to the first batch of female students of Kathakali at the Kerala Kalamandalam, is practising ‘Thodayam- Purappadu’, the introductory acts, along with her male classmates at the Thekkan Kalari of Kalamandalam.