Kathakali | Mohiniyattam | Velakali | Thiruvathirakali | Chakkiarkoothu  

Kavadiyattam| Ottan Thullal | Kalarippayat |

THEYYAM
Theyyam is one of the most outstanding ancient dance form of Kerala. It has its origin in the northern parts of the state. It is a very fascinating ritual practised for centuries by the tribal people and the villagers of Northern Kerala . This folk art form is also called Thirayattam, because every thira or village performed this ritualistic art at the village temple. The Theyyam or Kolam (a form or shape), represents a mythological, divine or heroic character. There are over 350 Theyyams in northern Kerala.

It is a dance form glorifying the Theyyam, the local deity, who is believed to bless and arbitrate between the farmers and their landlords. This primitive ritualistic art demands long hours of preparation before the performance. The bizarre head dresses, costumes and body painting and trance like performances are very extraordinary. Each one has a distinguishing headgear and costume made out of natural materials like leaves and bark. Musical accompaniments are chenda and veekuchenda (drums), elathalam and kuzhal (horn). Theyyam is always performed by men. Female roles are also enacted by men wearing suitable makeup and colourful costumes.

During the festival season between January and April, Theyyam performances can be seen in the villages in the erst-while Malabar region, especially in the Kannur District. There are regular Theyyam performances at Sri Muthappan Temple in Parassinikadavu, which is some 20 km north-east of Kannur town.

OTTAN THULLAL
Ottan thullal is a solo dance-drama created 400 years ago by Kalakath Kunjan Nambiar. The basic element of Ottan Thullal is satire, through which Nambiar set about correcting the evils that prevailed in society. Ottan Thullal is combined with the humorous elements of Koothu and an element of Kathakali.

Ottan Thullal is performed by a single actor who wears colorful costumes. In Ottan Thullal, the symbols and gestures are the same as those of Kathakali. The actor plays many parts, and the acting is accompanied by his own singing. The popularity of Ottan Thullal as a dance form has continued undiminished to this day.

MOHINIYATTAM
Mohiniyattam is a semi-classical dance form. It contains elements of Bharathanatyam, Kuchipudi and Odissi. It is based on the story of 'Mohini', the mythological seductress. The movements are graceful like that of Odissi and the costumes sober and fascinating. It combines songs in Malayalam with Carnatic music. It is performed mainly in Kerala. It is essentially a solo dance. The first reference to Mohiniyattam is found in 'Vyavaharamala' composed by Mazhamangalam Narayanan Namboothiri assigned to the 16th century. In the 19th century, Swathi Thirunal, the Maharaja of erstwhile Travancore did much to encourage and stabilize this art form. It was poet Vallathol who again revived it and gave it a standing in modern times through Kerala Kalamandalam which he founded in 1930.

VELAKALI
It is one of the most elaborate and spectacular martial folk arts of Kerala. This ritual art form is usually presented within the temple premises and is called Thirumumbil vela when performed before the deity and Kulathilvela when performed near the temple pond. Fifty or more performers in the traditional attire of soldiers, bearing colourful shields and swords or long canes, dance with war like steps in perfect orchestration with the resounding rhythm of the thakil, suddha maddalam, elathalam, kuzhal and trumpets. A few fighting techniques of Kalaripayattu are also displayed in the course of the performance.

THIRUVATHIRAKALI
Thiruvathirakali is a classical dance form, which is a pointer to the old customs followed in the Nair tharawads (joint families). In this dance form, the women of the house dance elegantly around the ceremonial lamp or floral decoration on festive occasions to the accompaniment of the Thiruvathira pattu (song).

CHAKKIARKOOTHU
This is a very ancient dance form of Kerala. It is believed to have been introduced by the early Aryan immigrants. This is performed by the members of the Chakkiar caste. It is a highly orthodox type of entertainment. It is staged inside temples only and the theatre is known as 'Koothambalam.' The performances are usually witnessed by the Hindus belonging to the higher castes.

In Chakkiarkoothu, the story is recited in a quasi-dramatic style with emphasis on eloquent declarations with appropriately suggestive facial expressions and hand gestures. The only accompaniments are the cymbals and the drum known as the mizhavu, made of copper with a narrow mouth on which is stretched a piece of parchment.

KAVADIYATTAM 
Kavadiyattam is a ritualistic dance form performed by devotees. The group of devotees wearing bright yellow or saffron costumes with ash smeared all over the body dance in a frenzy carrying kavadis on their shoulders. Kavadis are colorful bow shaped wooden structures rising six to ten feet tall. The ambalakavadi is structured and decorated like a temple. The pookavadi has clusters of colorful, paper, cloth or plastic flowers arranged on them. The resounding beats of percussion instruments like udukku and chenda and the nadaswaram are characteristic of the kavadi procession. It is usually offered in Subramanya temples.

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