Kathakali (Malayalam: കഥകളി, kathakaḷi) is one of the major forms of [[classical Indian Dramatic Dance or Naatyam]. It is another "story play" genre of art, but one distinguished by its elaborately colorful make-up, costumes and face masks wearing actor-dancers, who have traditionally been all males. Kathakali primarily developed as a Hindu performance art in the Malayalam-speaking southwestern region of India (Kerala).