Koodiyattom

Oldest art form
Koodiyattom, (literally, dancing together) is the Sanskrit theatre of Kerala which is believed to have originated two millennia ago. The plays are in Sanskrit with the Chakyars performing the male role and the Nangiars (women of the Nambiar community) performing the female roles. The Vidushaka or clown recites the Malayalam translation for the benefit of the audience. Manipravalam, a mixture of Sanskrit and Malayalam language owes its origin to Koodiyattom.The performance of Koodiyattom was codified in ancient times through elaborate stage manuals called Attaprakarams and Karmadeepikas. The theatric action is based on these choreographic texts which contain all the logistic, organizational and theatric aspects of Koodiyattom.

Chakyarkoothu

Chakyarkoothu also called Koothu, is one of the oldest classical theatre arts of Kerala. This solo dance is usually presented by members of the Chakyar community in the Koothambalams (temple theatres) of temples to the accompaniment of the mizhavu (drum in the shape of a large spherical copper pot) and elathalam. The Chakyar is an ideal satirist who uses narrative, mime, wit and innuendo to communicate with the audience, often cutting jokes even at the expense of the people present there. It is his prerogative, and custom has conferred upon him immunity from interruption during a performance. Themes are usually from the epics.

Thullal

Thullal is a modification of the Koothu and is characterized by simplicity of presentation, wit and humour. It owes its origin to Kunjan Nambiar, one of the leading poets of Malayalam. This solo dance with no stage or any other form of arrangement required is marked by fast and rhythmic movements. The dancer himself sings the lead to the accompaniment of the maddalam and elathalam. Thullal is classified into three - Ottanthullal, Seethankamthullal and Parayanthullal - based on the metre and rhythm of the songs and the distinctions in costume and dance. As most other art forms of Kerala, Thullal also has colourful constumes, with elaborate headgears and paintings of the face. It is usually presented during temple festivals.

The divine dance
Said to be the corrupt form of Deivam or God, Theyyam is one of the most outstanding folk arts of Kerala and has its origin in the northern parts of the State. Also called Thirayattam, this primitive ritualistic art reflects features of a tribal culture. It is performed in temples and kavus (sacred groves) to propitiate the deities and a Theyyam acts as a medium between the deity and the devotee.

This comprehensive system of martial arts, regarded as one of the oldest and most scientific in the world, evolved in North Kerala.

Exclusive training

Every locality northern Kerala used to have kalaris or gymnasia where boys and girls were trained under a gurukkal. Here they were taught a set of body exercises as well as use weapons like kuruvadi (short stick) and sariravadi (mace, dagger, sword, shield). Marmams were taught to the most promising of the lot. Marmams are vulnerable parts of the human body and a skilled person can disable or kill his opponent by a mere touch.

Unique techniques

Kalaripayattu involves extremely energetic techniques of defence and attack. Meipayattu involves high jumping and kicking movements and striking blows on vital places using the arms, shoulders and hands. Meithari is the unarmed technique. Kolthari involves usage of sticks and ankathari, usage of weapons.

Holistic approach

Kalaripayattu training aims at the ultimate co-ordination of the mind and body. The traditional training in a kalari includes specialization in indigenous medical practices too. Kalaris are also centers of religious worship.

Kummatti is ritualistic ceremony to propitiate the Devi (Goddess) where performers wearing masks and adorning grabs made of grass, dry leaves etc. go from house to house singing and dancing.

Poothamkali

Poothamkali is a folk art performed in the Bhagavathy temples of Malappuram. Pootham is a character who accompanied Durga in her combat with Darika Asura. Colourful and intricately designed masks carved out of the pala and murukku trees are the highlights of the attire. The fifteen minute performance starts slowly and works up to a frenzy towards the end. The thudi provides rhythm to the dance which is usually rendered at night.

Thidampu nritham which is over 700 years old, is a ritualistic art form of North Kerala. The dancer moves to the rhythmic beats of the chenda carrying the thidampu (the symbolic image of the deity) on his head. Seven artists accompany him on percussion instruments while two others hold aloft the ritualistic lamps. The artist wears much jewellery and a decorated turban known as Ushnipeetam.

Padayani

Padayani (literally, a column of army) is a colourful ritual art which is symbolic of the victory march of goddess Kali after defeating the demon Darika. The elaborate costume of this art form bears slight resembalance to Theyyam.

Thiruvathirakali is a dance form which is a pointer to the old customs followed in Nair tharawads (join families) where the women of the house dance elegantly around the ceremonial lamp or floral decoration on festive occasion to the accompaniment of the thiruvathira pattu (song). Kummi is another form of Thiruvathirakali.

Chavittunatakam is an art from which evolved due to Portuguese influence. It developed under the auspices of the church in Kerala with the object of preenting Biblical themes. The actors stamp with their feet on wooden platforms to the tune of songs and drums. Music is important in Chavittunatakam. Stories include that of Christian saints, Charlemagne and Napoleaon.

Pulikali

Pulikali also known as Kaduvakali, is a common sight in Kerala during festive seasons. Performers painted like tigers in bright yellow, red and black, dance to the loud beats of percussion instruments like the udukku and thakil.

Margamkali is an art form popular among the Syrian Christains of Kerala, where twelve persons sing and dance around a nilavilakku (lamp) with eleven burning wicks. The lamp is believed to represent Christ, and performers, His twelve disciples.

Oppana is a Muslim bridal group dance where the bride dressed in all her finery sits in the center while the others move around her singing and clapping their hands rhythmically.

Velakali is a ritual arts fifty or more performers in the traditional attire of soldiers, bearing colourful shields and swords, dance with war like steps in perfect orchestration to the thakil, suddha maddalam, elathalam and kuzhal. It is called thirumumbil vela when performed before the deity and kulathilvela when performed near the temple pond. A few fighting techniques of Kalaripayattu are also included in the performance.

Panchavadyam: Suddha-maddalam, komb, edakka, elathalam, timila are the five instruments used besides sankh (conch) for Panchavadyam. The Panchavadyam can have different types depending on the number of instruments. The minimum requirement is three thimilas, one suddha-maddalam, two elathalams, two kombs and one edakka, besides the sankh. The positioning of an artist in a panchavadyam mela (concert) is also important. Timila and suddha-maddalam artists face each other. Elathalam artists stand behind the timila artists and comb artists stand behind suddha-maddalam artists. Edakka drummers face each other and the sankh blower stands in front, next to them. Panchavadyam starts with the blowing of sankhs. The famous Thrissur Pooram gives an opportunity to witness playing of a full complement of Panchavadyam.

Pancharimelam: This is mainly confined to temples. Chenda, komb, Kuzhal and elathalam are the main instruments used. For a complete performance, the minimum requirements are 33 veekuchendas, 33 elathalams and 11 each of komb, kuzhal and muttuchenda.

Pandimelam : This differs from Pancharimelam slightly, through the instruments used are the same. While the beating of chenda in Pancharimelam is done with two sticks, only one is used for drumming in Pndimelam. Another difference lies in the blowing of kuzhal, which in Pandimelam is done in Bhairav Raaga. Pandimelam can be seen in its full splendour during Pooram at the Sri Vadakkumnathan Temple compound in Thrissur.

Thayambaka : This can be seen during festival days, especially when the temple deity is taken out in procession. Only chendas and eleathalams are used. The artist uses his palm and stick for drumming.

Kolkali

Kolkali is a group form of the farming community in Kerala. Twelve to twenty four dancers move rhythmically in a circle around the ceremonial lamp, tapping the two feet long wooden sticks held in their hands.

Cherumarkali is a harvest dance in which the dancers, both men and women move in a swift rhythm, linked in a back lock or holding arms. The costumes are in striking red and white.

Vadithallu

Vadithallu is almost similar to Kolkali and is a folk dance in which artists tap the short sticks held in both hands.

Thiyyattu is a devotional offering to goddess Bhadrakali and Sree Ayyappa. This ritual arts is performed in a specially decorated pandal, before the kalam (five colour design on the floor), nilavilakku (the traditional lamp) and peetam (stool). The performance usually starts at dusk. The artist sing and dance to the rhythmic music of the chenda, elathalam and chengila. The costumes bear resemblances to that of Ottamthullal and Kathakali. The distinctive features are huge jingling anklets and face make-up with tiny dots.

Sarpa pattu or Sarpa thullal or snake dance is a ritual art performed in shrines and temples devoted to Nagaraja, the king of serpents. It is performed by women who belong to the Pulluvar caste, in a specially decorated pandal, before the sarpakalam (snake designs on the floor). The women dance in a frenzy to the rhythm of the sarpa pattu, until they fall dawn exhausted. The sarpa pattu is performed to the accompaniment of pulluvakudom, a stringed instrument.

Thattumelkoothu is a devotional folk art. The dance is performed on a special platform which is carried around the temple by devotees even as the performance goes on.

Kuthiyottam is a natural art exclusive to the Devi temple of South Kerala. A team of artists perform this song and dance ritual. The songs include those in praise of Durga and other deities padapattu (war songs) and kalaripattu (martial art songs). Instrumental accompaniments are mainly percussions, ganjira, bells and chaplankatta. Faces are painted and red curtains are used as partitions on the stage.

Kumbhamkali or Kumbhamthullal (pot dance) is a folk ritual dance of devotees carrying pots on the head.

Patakam (literally, dissertation) is similar to Koothu in technical content, gestures and movements. However, the narration is through prose and song sequences. The costume is predominated by the red colour - a red headdress and a red silk wrist band. The performer also wears heavygarlands around the neck and thick lines a sandal paste across the forehead. Patakam is also performed outside the temples.

Parisakali was developed by the Mappilas of North Kerala as a fold art. It is a game played in the form of a mock fight by boys holding short sticks in one hand a red straw-board shield in the other.