‘Why is he hiding behind the curtain?’, a graphic novelette for children, takes readers into the world of Kerala’s performing arts
A new graphic novelette titled 'Why is he hiding behind the curtain?' introduces children to the traditional performing arts of Kerala, specifically Kathakali and Ottanthullal. Created by Arun Narayan and illustrated by Sanusha US, the book aims to engage younger audiences who may be unfamiliar with these art forms. The 32-page novelette includes over 300 panels and activity pages, making it an interactive experience for readers aged eight and above.
- ▪The novelette is designed to engage children with Kerala's artistic heritage.
- ▪It features a storyline that follows siblings Appu and Anu as they explore Kathakali at Kerala Kalamandalam.
- ▪The book includes activity pages for coloring and puzzles related to the story.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
A colourful, rectangular piece of cloth held by two men is lowered slightly to reveal the mask-like face of the artiste on stage before it is pulled up again. The peekaboo game continues with tantalising glimpses of the actor while the percussion drums up excitement, building up anticipation for a Kathakali play about to be staged. Explaining this interesting prelude to a Kathakali play is a slim graphic novelette, Why is he hiding behind the curtain?, which takes readers above the age of eight into the colourful artistic heritage of Ottanthullal and Kathakali, traditional performing arts of Kerala.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Hindu — Top.
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