# MINUKKA, the feminine character of Kathakali

- By: Shagil Kannur
- Date: 16 February 2024, 19:42
- Classification: Photograph
- Museum: [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MINUKKA,_the_feminine_character_of_Kathakali.jpg)
- Rights: [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)
- Picture: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/MINUKKA%2C_the_feminine_character_of_Kathakali.jpg/1920px-MINUKKA%2C_the_feminine_character_of_Kathakali.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

Kathakali is a traditional form of Indian Classical Dance, and one of the most complex forms of Indian theatre. It is native to the Malayalam-speaking state of Kerala and is almost entirely practiced by the Malayali people and is officially recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Minukku (often referred to as Minukka) is one of the main makeup categories in Kathakali, reserved for gentle, virtuous, and spiritually refined characters. While it is most famous as the primary makeup style for noble female roles, it is also used for male characters who embody purity, such as sages , saints, and Brahmins. This is an event photograph, directly captured during a live performance.