It was at that time that the benign Maharaja of Cochin intervened and took over the management of the Kalamandalam through a royal proclamation. Since then the Kalamandalam has been sustained by the annual grant of the State Government. Kalamandalam is conceived as an institution that adheres to traditional Gurukulam style of teaching. It is thus a residential institution, the only exception being that a few day students attend Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam classes. The traditional syllabus followed by the Kalamandalam requires that the students start work in the early hours of the morning.
Physical culture is indeed strenuous.
The muscles and bones must be quite supple. This state can be achieved only by oil massage of a very rigorous nature performed during the cold months of the monsoon over a fortnight to a month. For a Kathakali artist the annual massage is a must, without which his body will become stiff. From the connoisseur's point of view, the more enjoyable portion in a Kathakali performance is Illakiyattam. Illakiyattam is different from Cholliyattam.