Kathakali: Puthanam Moksham

Kathakali: Puthanam Moksham

Date: Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Schedule: 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Location: Auditorium. Madrid Campus – Puerta de Toledo. Carlos III University of Madrid
Admission: Free admission until capacity is reached
In collaboration with: Casa de la India

As part of the UC3M India Week, the company Margi Kathakali presents Puthanam Moksham, one of the most frequently performed plays in the Kathakali, a classical form of dance-drama originating in the state of Kerala, in southern India. The performance will take place on Tuesday, September 29, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., in the Auditorium of the Madrid Campus—Puerta de Toledo of Carlos III University of Madrid, with free admission until capacity is reached.

Puthanam Moksham is based on an episode from the Bhagavata Purana, one of the major texts of Hindu Puranic literature. The film tells the story of Putana, a demoness sent by King Kamsa to kill the infant Krishna. Disguised as a wet nurse, Putana attempts to poison him by offering him her breast; Krishna, aware of her true identity, absorbs not only her milk but also her life force, causing her death. However, direct contact with the divine grants him moksha, or spiritual liberation.
Incorporated into the Kathakali repertoire between the 17th and 18th centuries, this story showcases the extraordinary expressive power of this theatrical tradition. On stage, Kathakali combines an elaborate language of gesture— mudras—, a complex system of facial expressions —abhinaya—, vocal music, percussion, makeup, and ceremonial costumes. The result is a theatrical experience of great visual and symbolic intensity, in which deception, divine power, and ultimate redemption clash.

Margi Kathakali Company
A company specializing in Kathakali and in the preservation, teaching, and promotion of the traditional performing arts of Kerala.

Course with credit recognition for UC3M students through the Activity Passport.
In order for the activity to be counted, you must register in advance in the Activity Passport—in addition to reserving a spot, when applicable—and sign the attendance sheet at the end of the activity.
You can sign up for the UC3M India Week activities through: Activity Passport Registration Section: On Campus / Other Activities