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Kerala | Kerala Art Forms

Art forms in Kerala speak out the cultural heritage of Kerala. Festivals of Kerala offer opportunity to find Kerala traditional rituals and customs. Kerala is the land of beautiful and colourful art forms. Tour operators are eager to include art forms in Kerala in their tourism packages. The tradition of classical dance and arts in Kerala dates back over a thousand years. The UNESCO has recognised some of the art forms as the part of world heritage. Kerala tour gives the best opportunity to experience traditional art forms in Kerala and the best time to enjoy art forms is during January and April, the time of temple festivals in Kerala.

Arjuna Nritham | Chavittu Nadakam | Duffmuttu | Garudan Thookkam | Kakkarissi Nadakam Kalamezhuthupattu | Kalaripayattu | Kaliyattam | Kanyarkali | Kathakali | Kavadiyattam | Kolkkali Koodiyattom | Koothu | Kummattikali | Kurathiyattam | Margam Kali | Mayilattam | Mayilnritham Mohiniyattam | Mudiyettu | Oppana | Ottam Thullal | Padayani | Pulikali | Pulluvan Pattu Thayambaka | Theeyattu | Theyyam | Thiruvathira Kali | Vadakkanpattu | Vallamkali | Velakali

Arjuna Nritham: Arjuna Nritham is performed by men in major Bhagavathy temples in Kerala. The dance movements are closely similar to Kalarippayattu techniques.
Chavittu Nadakam: Chavittu Nadakam is a Christian art form. It evolved in 16th century AD during the Portuguese colonization in India. The costumes used in Chavittu Nadakam are very heavy and beautiful. The artists tap their feet on the stage loudly. The language is a colloquial mixture of Tamil and Malayalam.
Duffmuttu: A ritual form of art popular among the Muslims of Malabar in Kerala. Duffmuttu is a group performance. The performers use a round percussion instrument called Duffu. The saints and heroes are praised in the songs and the artists beat on Duffu according to the rhythm of songs.
Garudan Thookkam: Garudan Thookkam is performed in central parts of Kerala. Dancers dressed in the form of Lord Garuda move to the tunes of percussion instruments.
Kakkarissi Nadakam: Kakkarissi Natakam is a social entertainment of central Travancore, Ambalapuzha and Trivandrum. Kakkarissi Natakam is presented by out casts, Ezhavas and Kurava communities.
Kalamezhuthupattu:Kalamezhuthupattu is mainly belongs to the northern regions of Kerala. Kalamezhuthupattu is believed to be 600 years old. The importance of Kalamezhuthupattu is worshipping Goddess Kali through it.
Kalaripayattu: According to Dhanurveda, Agnipuranam, Natyasastra, Hasthangastam and Srakraneeti Parasurama, the warrior sage is the father and first Guru of Kalaripayattu. Kalaripayattu provides the institutional base for the body building and training in combat.
Kanyarkali: Kanyar Kali is a very old art form permanent in Palakkad District in Kerala. Kanyar Kali is a combination of temple ritual and entertainment. It is played in four parts and lasts for four days. Kanyar Kali is performed at night and continues till dawn.
Kathakali: Kathakali is the classical dance form of Kerala which is believed to have originated in the 17th century AD. Kathakali is a dramatic art where the expression is the heart of its perfection. This spectacular dance form of Kerala is based on the guidelines laid by Sage Bharatha’s Natya Sastra; the ancient treatise on dance and drama is over 500 years old. Kathakali is an integration of dance, music, poetry and histrionics.
Kavadiyattam: Kavadiyattam is the most common ritual dance offering in temples where Lord Subramanya is the deity. In Kavadiyattam, the devotees wear bright yellow or saffron costumes with ash all over the body. They dance according to the rhythmatic music of drums in frenzy carrying Kavadis on their shoulders.
Kolkkali: Kolkkali is a folk art wielding small sticks by the dancers. This art form is more popular among Muslim men. The sticks are striking uniformly according to the rhythm of dance and song. In this highly rhythmic dance the artists make marvelous movements without missing a single beat. The sound of striking sticks and excellent movements of artists make Kolkkali wonderful.
Koodiyattom: The earliest classical dramatic art form of Kerala, Koodiyattom is based on Bharatha’s Natya Sastra evolved in the 9th century AD. Once staged only inside the temple theatre Koodiyattom represents events from mythology. Koodiyattom is performed by two or more characters. The UNESCO has recognised this art form as the part of world heritage.
Koothu: Koothu is a temple art usually performed in temples during festivals in Kerala. There are different types of Koothu like Chakkiar Koothu, Nambiar Koothu, Tholpavakoothu etc. Chakkair Koothu usually represents Sanskrit dramas and is performed by a single character.   The Chakkiar usually plays the part of a buffoon.
Kummattikali:Kummattikali is mostly found in Wayanad, Thrissur and Palakkad districts in Kerala. The performers of Kummattikali wear masks and the dress is made of grass and dry leaves. In Thrissur district in Kerala, Kummattikali is performed during Onam.
Kurathiyattam: The Kurava Community performs Kurathiyattam during temple festivals in Kerala. Both youngsters and middle aged people perform Kurathiyattam. It is performed differently in South Kerala and North Kerala. Only three artists perform in the South and eight artists perform in the North. Very few musical instruments are used. The main characters are Kurava and Kurathi.
Margam Kali: A ritual folk art of Syrian Christians in Kerala, Margam Kali is an allegorical enactment with a lighted lamp in the middle, representing Jesus Christ and the dancers are His disciples. The dancers wear beautiful white dhoti with special ornaments and the way of dressing is very peculiar.
Mayilnritham: Mayilnritham is a ritual and performed by artists wearing peacock costumes.  Mayilnritham is mainly seen in Subramanya temples in South Kerala and also known as Mayilattam.
Mohiniyattam: In the beginning Mohiniyattam is performed usually in temples, exclusively by ladies. It is a very graceful and elegant dance form which consists of mudras, expressions and rhythmic steps. Now, Mohiniyattam has become popular and is performed on the stage to the accompaniment of drums, violin and other instruments.
Mudiyettu: This ritual art is performed in Devi Temples of Central Kerala. It represents the encounter between Goddess Bhadrakali and the demon Daruka.
Oppana: Oppana is a particular type of group song and dance performed during Muslim marriages in Kerala.  Oppana is prevalent particularly in the districts of Malapuram, Calicut and Kannur. On the wedding eve the bride is made to sit in the centre, dressed in all her finery and her friends and relatives stand all round her clapping their hands, singing and dancing.
Ottam Thullal: Ottam Thullal was first introduced by one of the leading poets in Kerala named Kunjan Nambiar. The dancer is dressed in colourful costumes, painted face and headgear. This art form is performed during temple festivals in Kerala. Thullal is a modified form of Chakiar Koothu which is also a temple art performed during festivals in Kerala.
Padayani: Padayani is an art form depicting the story of the victory of Goddess Kali who after defeating the demon called Darika. Padayani is a colourful ancient art form in Kerala. The costume of Padayani is too elaborate and performed in an open space near the temple.
Pulikali: The Kaduvakali or Pulikali, the dance of the tiger, once performed all over the state is now seeing only in Thrissur and Palakkad districts in Kerala. The Pulikali is performed during onam festival in Kerala. The performance is accompanied by the loud beating of traditional percussion instrument. The artist who wears the mask of tiger dances according to the beat of percussion instrument.
Pulluvan Pattu: A ritual offering to appease Serpent deities prevalent in Central Kerala. A picture of Serpent deity is drawn using variously coloured powders. The drawing of Nagakalam is accompanied by the playing of a unique string instrument called the Pulluvakudam.
Thayambaka: A group of drummers numbering 50 or 100 or more accompanied by trumpets and cymbals perform to a crescendo.
Theeyattu: Theeyattu originated some 15, 00 years back is performed in villages of Central Kerala particularly in Alappuzha and Chengannur. The main costumes involved are huge jingling anklets and face make up with small dots.
Theyyam: Theyyam or Kaliyattam is performed in the temples of Malabar in Kerala. A section of this art is known as Thira which represents lives of great heroes. The performer after wearing a silk cloth round the waist and a crown on his head stands with devotion in front of the Devi Temple. The Theyyam gets possessed and performs a rhythmic dance called urayal when the deity enters the body of the Theyyam.
Thiruvathira Kali: Thiruvathira Kali is a celebration of the Birthday of Lord Siva. This dance is performed by women for everlasting marital bliss. Goddess Parvathi is supposed to have danced with her companions on this auspicious day. So even to this day the women of Kerala, in groups of sixteen or twenty dance round a lamp or floral decoration to celebrate the Lord’s Birthday.
Vadakkanpattu: Vadakkanpattu is composed by village savants on the heroic life of legendary figures in Kalaripayattu. The lyrics are simple and filled with romantic feelings. Vadakkanpattu depicts the life style of the people, rituals, their culture and traditions.
Vallamkali: Vallamkali or Boat Race is very popular in Kerala. Snake Boat Race is a spectacular game during Onam festival in Kerala. Nehru Trophy Boat Race and Aranmulla Boat Race offer a wonderful experience to the viewers.
Velakali: Velakali was performed around 250 years ago in the Ambalapuzha area of Kerala and mainly known as Ambalapuzha Velakali. This spectacular martial dance is performed by men in some of the temples of southern Kerala. The dancers, clad in the traditional clothes and colourful headgear of the medieval Nair soldiers, engage in vigorous movements with shield in one hand and sword in the other.