The Ministry of Culture has inaugurated the 17th Kathakali Festival at the Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai. The three-day event, running from 18 to 20 September 2026, will showcase performances from three leading Kathakali institutions and includes the theme “Kadha Rasa Sangama – Confluence of Essence of Stories”.
What is happening and where
The festival takes place at the Bharata Kalakshetra Auditorium in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai. Three Kathakali companies will present distinct productions during the event:
- Sadanam Academy opens the festival on 18 September with “Mandodari”, which draws from the Ramayana and focuses on Ravana’s final moments and Mandodari’s response
- Kerala Kalamandalam presents “The Old Man and the Sea” on 19 September, adapting Ernest Hemingway’s novel into Kathakali form to tell the story of Santiago the fisherman
- Margi Theatre concludes the festival on 20 September with “Rugmangada Charitham”, depicting a king’s devotion and faith
Beyond the main evening performances, the festival includes morning lecture-demonstrations from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM each day at Rukmini Arangam, followed by presentations by Kalakshetra Foundation students.
The Kalakshetra Foundation, established in 1936 by Rukmini Devi Arundale, is a government institution dedicated to preserving and promoting India’s classical arts and traditional cultural heritage. It has historically focused on Bharatanatyam and supports transmission of traditional music, dance and craft forms through education and public performance.
What this means for you
If you are interested in classical Indian dance and theatre, this festival offers an opportunity to experience Kathakali—a major classical art form from Kerala—through performances by established institutions. The morning lecture-demonstrations may be particularly useful if you want to understand the techniques and stories behind the art form. Anyone in or visiting Chennai during mid-September 2026 can attend performances at the festival venue in Thiruvanmiyur.