In this book we have presented four Kathakali plays in English translation, Baka Vadhd, Kirata, alyana Saugandhika, and Kichak Vadha, out of nine Kathakali plays based on the Mahabharata. Other five plays: Duryodhana Vadha, Rajasuya, Kirmira Vadha, Kalakeya Vadha, and Uttara Swayamvara are not included in this book, but they will appear in subsequent volume of Kathakali Plays.
In this book we have presented eight Kathakali plays in English based on Hindu epics-the Ramayana: Ravanodbhava, Ravana Vijaya, Bali Vijaya, sita Swayamvara, Bali Vadha, Torana Yudha, Pattabhisheka, and Lavanasura Vadha. The present book may help the reader to put the events of the Ramayana into their proper chronological order, and to identify the characters on the stage and get some idea of the plot, if he would see a performance of one of these plays.