The performance

• There are four preliminary music and dance demonstration before the play begins

• Invocatory drumming by the maddalam player with which kathakali performance begins

• dance performed by the junior actors behind the tirasila without makeup.This is essentially a rite performed to propitiate the gods

Purappadu

• Introduction to pure dance which is intended to introduce the main character of the play being performed

Melappadam

• Display of drumming accompanied by gong and cymbals which precede the start of the play and lasts  for over half an hour.The first part of mellapada a pada from the Gita Govinda is sung.

After all the demonstration the final play begins.In olden days only one play was enacted in full form which lasted throughout the night.The opening scene are quite and slow.As the night goes on the action gets faster and faster until the final scene just before the dawn brings the performance to an end with fierce fighting and killing of the demons.

At the conclusion of the final scene actor  performs dhanasi,a short solo dance sequence offering thanks to the god for the succesful completion of the play and asking the blessings on the audience.