| Chapter No. | Chapter Title | Chapter Author | Page No. |
| The Background | | |
| The Philosophy of katakali | D. Appukuttan Nair | 1 |
| A Three-dimensional Poetic Art | D. Appukuttan Nair | 5 |
| Textual Sources for Performance | K. Ayyappa Panikar | 19 |
| Patrons, Troupes and Performers | Chitra Panikkar | |
| major Kathakali Institutes Kerala Kalamandalam | Olappamanna Subramanian Nambudirippad | 46 |
| margi : An Art Resource Centre | G.S. Warrier | 49 |
| Initiation and Training | Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair | 53 |
| The Performance | | |
| A Visual Representation of The Structure of A Typical Performance | | 71 |
| An Introduction to Abhinaya | Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair | 85 |
| The Visual Dimension Aharyabhinaya | Kalamandalam Govinda Warrier | 88 |
| Angikabhinaya | Kalamandalam Gopi | 111 |
| The Auditive Dimension | | 126 |
| Music Kalamandalam Gangadharan | | 130 |
| Rhythmics | Chandra Mannadiar | 145 |
| Rasabhinaya | D. Appukuttan Nair | 149 |
| Dramatic Vignettes | | |
| Kalyanasougandhikam | | 160 |
| Kamaladalam | | 168 |
| Nalacharitam | | 176 |
| Tapassattom | | 188 |
