The Chhenda and Maddalam pulsate – drums that rent the air, stir and penetrate your soul. A cosmic experience unfolds: Kathakali. Culled from ancient Sanskrit drama, Kathakali originated in Kerala between the 16th and 17th centuries. A unique amalgam of traditional art forms, it absorbs canons of the Natya Shastra, indigenous rituals, mime, and martial arts. The effect is absolutely riveting.

The performers could only be gods, stepping out of ancient texts – a mere flick of the eyebrow, a turn of the head, holding a power and energy that could only descend from the heavens. Arun Khopkar draws open the curtains on his impressions, as only he can, through a filmmaker’s eye.