Another distinguishing characteristic of Kathakali is that the actors do not speak. These songs are explained and interpreted in details by actors through an elaborate method of angikabhinaya, which consists of highly codified gestures, facial expression, and body movements. Through a systematic process of practice an actor gains full control of the facial muscles that enables him to express the basic bhavas or emotions of love, laughter, sorrow, anger, energy, heroism, tranquillity, fear and astonishment. The makeup is also a method of categorizing the characters. The actor does a major part of the face make-up himself.
Designs vary according to the type of characters.
In olden days Kathakali performance mostly took place on a temple premises or at the house of a local land lord. A pandal or a canopy with a thatched roof would be erected with a green room located close by. The stage is not raised, but at the same level as the audience and is decorated with coconut leaves, bunches of areca nuts etc. The only source of light is a big bell metal lamp placed down the center stage. At about 6 o'clock in the evening the performance is announced by a brief passage of drumming known as Kelikottu.