സതീഷ്ബാബുകുട്ടമത്ത് : ARTS

Theyyams

Theyyam Theyyattam or Thira is a popular Hindu ritual form of worship of North Malabar in Kerala state, India, predominant in the Kolathunadu area (consisting of present-day Kasargod, Kannur Districts, Mananthavady Taluk of Wayanad and Vadakara & Koyilandy Taluks of Kozhikode of Kerala state. As a living cult with several thousand-year-old traditions, rituals and customs, it embraces almost all the castes and classes of the Hindu religion in this region. The performers of Theyyam belong to the lower class community, and have an important position in Theyyam. View More

Mohiniyattam

Mohiniyattam, also spelled Mohiniattam is a traditional South Indian dance from Kerala, developed by the Tamil nattuvanar Vadivelu,one of the Thanjavur Quartet.. The term Mohiniyattam comes from the words "Mohini" meaning a woman who enchants onlookers and "aattam" meaning graceful and sensuous body movements. The word "Mohiniyattam" literally means "dance of the enchantress". There are two stories of the Lord Vishnu disguised as a Mohini. In one, he appears as Mohini to lure the asuras away from the amrita obtained during the churning of the palazhi or Ocean of Milk. View More

Ottamthullal

Ottamthullal, is a type of performing art from Kerala, the southern state of India Ottamthullal was created during the 18th century by legendary Malayalam poet Kalakkaththu Kunchan Nambiar. The story goes that Nambiar, who was playing the mizhavu for a Chakyar Koothu show, dozed off in the middle of the performance, thus inviting ridicule from the Chakyar. A humiliated Nambiar vowed to come up with an alternative art form to Chakyar koothu, and conjured up an Ottamthullal show that also made fun of prevalent socio-political equations & prejudices of the region View More

Chakyar Koothu

Chakyar Koothu is a performance art from Kerala, South India. It is primarily a type of highly refined monologue where the performer narrates episodes from Hindu epics (such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata) and stories from the Puranas. Sometimes, however, it is also a traditional equivalent of the modern stand-up comedy act, incorporating commentary on current socio-political events (and personal comments directed at the members of the audience. It is a solo performance, by a narrator in a distinctive headgear and black moustache with his trousseau smeared with sandalwood paste and red dots all over the body. View More

Nangyar Koothu

Nangiǎr Kūthu or Nangyar Koothu is an allied traditional art of Kutiyattam, an age-old Sanskrit drama tradition of India. It is performed traditionally by the women of the Ambalavasi Nambiar community of Kerala, known as Nangyaramma, but has transcended the caste barrier since the second half of the 20th century.Nangiarkoothu, an offshoot of Kutiyattam, is a solo performance with an antiquity of 1500 years. It is the sole domain of female artistes. The stories for the performance are taken from the text Sree Krishna Charitam, , depicting the life of Lord Krishna.View More

Koodiyattom

Koodiyattam meaning "combined acting," signifies Sanskrit drama presented in the traditional style in temple theatres of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is the only surviving specimen of the ancient Sanskrit theatre. It has an attested history of a thousand years in Kerala, but its origin and evolution are shrouded in mystery. Kutiyattam and chakyar koothu were among the dramatized dance worship services in temples of ancient India, particularly Tamilakam (modern-day Tamil Nadu and Kerala). View More

kathakali

Onam is one of the most significant harvest festivals of Kerala. It falls during the first month of the Malayalam calendar which is Chingam (August–September) and marks the homecoming of the legendary King Maveli. Onam is a celebration of Ten days. People put flower mats in front of their houses, to welcome the King.One of the main attractions of Onam, is the 'Vallamkali' or boat races of Karuvatta, Payippad, Aranmula and Kottayam.The most important things about Onam are the onakkodi, the new clothes worn on this day and onam sadya, a feast which is quite elaborate. View More

Krishnanattam

Krishnanattam is a temple art in Kerala, India. Krishnanattam is a dance drama and presents the story of Krishna in a series of eight plays and was created by Manaveda (1585-1658 AD), the then Zamorin Raja of Calicut in northern Kerala .The eight plays are : Avataram, Kaliyamardanam, Rasakrida, Kamsavadham, Swayamvaram, Banayuddham, Vividavadham and Swargarohanam. Krishnanattam survives in its glory at the Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple (Thrissur District, Kerala State, the southern state of India
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Kerala Natanam

Kerala Natanam (Kerala Dance) is a new style of dance that is now recognised as a distinct art form evolved from Kathakali a form of Indian dance-drama. The Indian dancer Guru Gopinath a well trained Kathakali artist and his wife Thankamani Gopinath who was the first student of Mohiniyattam in KeralaKalamandalam developed a unique structure for teaching and performing classical dance forms of India whose origins are from Kathakali. Solo, duets, dance dramas and traditional folk dances were the material they chose. View More

Thiruvathira kali

Thiruvathira is a Hindu festival celebrated in the southern Indian state of Kerala on the full moon day of the month of Dhanu (December or January). The festival commemorates the death of Kamadeva, the Hindu god of love. It is believed that on this day, the Goddess Parvathi finally met Lord Siva after her long penance.This festival is also called the festival of women, because women will fast on this day to get good husbands. Thiruvathirakali is a dance form performed by women on the day of Thiruvathira. View More

Bharatanatyam

Bharata Natyam is a classical dance form from the South India, nowadays practiced predominantly by girls. It is held as the national dance of India. The dance is accompanied by classical Carnatic music. Its inspirations come from the sculptures of the ancient temple of Chidambaram.Bharata Natyam comes from the words Bhava (expression), Raga (Music), Tala (rhythm) and Natya (classic Indian musical theatre). Today, it is one of the most popular and widely performed dance styles and is practiced by dancers all over the world View More

Kuchipudi

Kuchipudi is a Classical Indian dance form from Andhra Pradesh, India. It is also popular all over South India. Kucphiudi is the name of a village in the Divi Taluka of Krishna district that borders the Bay of Bengal and with resident Brahmins practicing this traditional dance form, it acquired the present name.The performance usually begins with some stage rites, after which each of the character comes on to the stage and introduces him/herself with a dharavu (a small composition of both song and dance) to introduce the identity, set the mood, of the character in the drama. The drama then begins.View More

Arjuna Nritham

Mayilpeeli Thookkam also called Arjuna Nritham (the dance of Arjuna) is a ritual art of Kerala performed by men of Ezhava community and is prevalent in the Bhagavathy temples of south Kerala, mainly in Kollam, Alappuzha and Kottayam districts. In the epic Mahabharatha, Arjuna was the most valiant of the five heroic brothers, the Pandavas, and was also a renowned singer and dancer and is said to have propitiated goddess Bhadrakali by a devotional presentation. Arjuna nritham is also called "Mayilpeeli Thookkam" as the costume includes a characteristic garment made of mayilppeeli (peacock feathers). View More

Yakshagana

Yakshagana is a musical theater popular in the coastal and Malenadu regions of Karnataka, India. Yakshagana is the recent (200 years) scholastic name for what are known as daśāvatāra believed to have evolved from pre-classical music and theatre during Bhakti movement.Yakshagana is popular in the districts of Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada,and Shimoga of Karnataka and Kasaragod district of Kerala. Yakshagana is gaining popularity in Bangalore since a few years. It has drawn comparisons to the Western tradition of opera. Actors wear costumes and enact various roles. View More

Puli kali

Puli Kali also known as Kaduvakali is a colorful recreational folk art from the state of Kerala. It is performed by trained artists to entertain people on the occasion of Onam, an annual harvest festival, celebrated mainly in the Indian state of Kerala. On the fourth day of Onam celebrations (Nalaam Onam), performers painted like tigers and hunters in bright yellow, red, and black dance to the beats of instruments like Udukku and Thakil. Literal meaning of Pulikali is the 'play of the tigers' hence the performance revolve around the theme of tiger hunting. The folk art is mainly practiced in Thrissur district of Kerala. View More

Margam kali

Margam Kali (Maargamkali) is one of the ancient round group dance of Kerala practiced by Saint Thomas Christians. It is difficult to trace the exact origin of the dance form and the compilation of the lyrics, but the dance form was practiced by the Saint Thomas Christians before the arrival of Portuguese missionaries in Kerala. There are several different opinions on the origin ofMargamkali. Margam" means path or way or solution in Malayalam, but in the religious context it is known as the path to attain salvation. Many lower class Hindus chose Christianity to escape caste discrimination from upper class Brahmins and Nairs. .View More

Oppana

Oppana is a popular form of social entertainment among the Mappila community of Kerala, south India, prevalent all over, especially in Malabar. Oppana is generally presented by females, numbering about fifteen including musicians, on a wedding day. The bride dressed in all finery, covered with gold ornaments and her palms and feet adorned with an intricately woven pattern of mylanchi (henna), sits amidst the circle of dancers. She is the chief spectator sitting on a peetam (chair), around which the singing and dancing take place. While they sing, they clap their hands rhythmically and move around the bride using simple steps with song.View More

Duffmuttu

Duffmuttu (also: Dubhmuttu) is an art form prevalent among Muslims in Kerala state of south India using the traditional duff, or daf, also called Thappitta. Participants dance to the rhythm as they beat the duff. The tradition method of playing this is by standing in a u shape, then singing byth i.e. the traditional Arabic song and then playing according to the song, and the modern way is by singing any Islamic song and then adding steps according to the song, then playing the duff. The method is similar but slightly different to that performed in Saudi Arabia and in almost all of Gulf Arab countries.View More

Kol kali

Kolkali is a folk art performed in North Malabar region of Kerala State in south India. The dance performers move in a circle, striking small sticks and keeping rhythm with special steps. The circle expands and contracts as the dance progress. The accompanying music gradually rises in pitch and the dance reaches its climax.Many of the traditional performing art forms of Kerala like Kathakali, Velakali, Poorakkali and Thacholikali; Kolkali, also have drawn elements from Kalarippayatt during their stages of evolution.View More

Thidampu Nrittam

Thidambu Nritham (dance with the replica of the deity) is a ritual dance performed in Temples of North Malabar. This is one among many rich art traditions of North Malabar. It is mainly performed by Namboothiris, and rarely other Brahmin communities. North Malabar is well renowned for its deep rooted culture and tradition. This northern part of present Kerala State is home for several prominent religious destinations that make it a heaven for several unique religious and ritual art forms including Theyyam. Thidambu Nritham is one such ritual art formView More

Kavadiyattam

Kavadi Attam is a dance performed by the devotees during the ceremonial worship of Murugan(Subramanian) It is often performed during the festival of Thaipusam and emphasizes debt bondage. The Kavadi itself is a physical burden through which the devotees implore for help from the God Murugan.The kavadi itself is steeped in mythology. At Mount Kailas, Lord Shiva entrusted the dwarf saint sage Agastya with two hillocks, with instructions to carry and install them in South India. But the sage left them in a forest and later asked his disciple Idumban to get themView More

Mangalam kali

Mangalamkali is a tribal dance in related to marriage function. The word mangalam kali is derived from ‘mangalam’ which means marriage, ‘kali’ means dance usually performed in tribs. The steps in this dance is very fast ,the dance is performed before the Senior members of the community. A group of about thirty people forum a circle and dance and sing to the music. Thudi is used for music. Jack wood is used for making Thudi. The rhythm variation in Thudi while switching from one song to another is very catchy. Even though Mangalam kali is associated with marriage the theme of the song is not directly related to marriageView More

Kalam pattu

Kalampattu is a traditional performing art in Kerala, India. It is performed as a vazhipad (offering). Pattu kurup, a traditional community, is in charge of that function. This offering is performed for the blessings of gods like Bhadrakali, Ayyappan, Vettakkorumakan, serpent god, etc. This kurup makes the kalam picture (drawn on the floor using five colours[1]) and he sings also. The velichappad (Komaram) mostly belongs to the Nambudiri community does the kalapradikshinam (rounding the kalam with different steps and rhythms), nalikerameru (breaking of coconut as offering), and kalammakkal View More

Theeyaattam

Theeyaattam also known as Theeyaattu (Tīyāttu) is a traditional dance form performed by the peoples of Theeyaattunni and Thiyaadi Nambiar,a sub-caste of Ambalavasi community in Kerala of southwestern India. There were two types of Theeyaattam - Bhadrakali Theeyaattu and Ayyappan Theeyaattu. Bhadrakali Theeyattu is performed by Theeyaattunnis (a Brahmin community in Kerala) whereas Ayyappan Theeyaattu is performed by Tīyyādi Nambiars (Ambalavasi).View More

Panchavadyam

Panchavadyam, literally meaning an orchestra of five instruments, is basically a temple art form that has evolved in Kerala. Of the five instruments, four -- timila, maddalam, ilathalam and idakka -- belong to the percussion category, while the fifth one, kombu, is a wind instrument.Much like any chenda melam, panchavadyam too is characterised by a pyramid-like rhythmic structure—with a constantly increasing tempo coupled with a proportional decrease in the number of beats in cycles. However, in contrast to a chenda melam, panchavadyam uses different instruments (though ilathalam and kompu are common to both)View More

Garudan Thookkam

Garudan Thookkam (Eagle Hanging) is a ritual art form performed in Kali temples of south Kerala, south India. The people who dress up as Garuda perform the dance. After the dance performance, the hang-designate dangle from a shaft hooking the skin on his back. In some places, the ritual is performed colorfully with Garudas taken in a procession on bullock carts or boats or hand pulled carts. It will be available in Devi temple during the festival of Meena bharani and Pathamudayam in Thiruvanchoor in Kottayam district.Legend has it that even after slaying Darika, Kali remained insatiable and thirsty.View More

Kolam Thullal

Kolam Thullal is a ritual dance form prevalent in south Kerala, southern India. It is customary in houses and temples of Bhagavathy, a female deity. It is performed at temple festivals and to drive away evil spirits from the "possessed" bodies. The costumer of the dancers are highly decorative and rich in colour and brilliance. Its origins lie with the Tinta group of the Kaniyar caste View More

Mudiyettu

Mudiyettu is a ritual dance drama from Kerala based on the mythological tale of a battle between the goddess Kali and the demon Darika. It is a community ritual in which the entire village participates. After the summer crops have been harvested, the villagers reach the temple in the early morning on an appointed day. Mudiyettu performers purify themselves through fasting and prayer, then draw a huge image of goddess Kali,called as kalam, on the temple floor with coloured powders, wherein the spirit of the goddess is invoked. This prepares the ground for the lively enactment to followView More

Padayani Dance

Padayani, also called Padeni, (from the word for military formations) is a traditional folk dance from the central portion of the Indian state of Kerala. A ceremonial dance involving masks, it is an ancient ritual performed in Bhagavati temples The dance is performed in honor of Bhadrakaali. In 2007, plans were put forward to implement a proposal by poet Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan to create a Padayani Village to promote the dance form As of 2009, the first such village is expected to be built in the poet's hometown of Kadammanitta at a cost of Rs. 1.9 crore A chief exponent of Padayani is Prof.View More

Pulluvan Paattu

At olden times in kerala, the people were divided into different castes (according to the work they do). A Pulluvan is a male member (female Pulluvatti ) of low caste group called Pulluvar. The term pullu means a bird of omen. The term pulluvan must have meant 'a person who predicts from the sound of birds'. There are many sub-divisions within the Pulluva community. The majority among them are called Nagampatikal (People who sing snake-songs). There are pulluvars who are not Naagampatikal, as well. They are known as Pretampatikal (People who sing ghost songs).View More

Sarpam Thullal

Many ancient family houses in Kerala have special snake shrines called Kavu. Sarpam Thullal is usually performed in the courtyard of houses having snake shrines. This is a votive offering for family wealth and happiness. The dance is performed by members of a community called Pulluvar. In the first stage the pulluvan draws a kalam (the field) in with two or more twining snakes in the courtyard. An oil lit traditional lamp and one full measure (nirapara) each of paddy and rice are then placed in front of the kalam. In the second stage, the idol of the snake is brought out from the Kavu in a procession called.... View More

Arabanamuttu

Aravana muttu or arabana muttu is an art form prevalent among Muslims in Kerala state of south India, named after the musical instrument of the same name, which is a drumlike instrument or made of wood and animal skin, similar to the daff but a little wider and smaller. This is a more difficult art than the duff. There are traditional and modern method of playing the aravana. The traditional method is by sitting in a semicircle. The leader of the group will start singing and when the initial song is over,View More

Sopana Sangeetham

Sopana Sangeetham is a form of Indian classical music that developed in the temples of Kerala in south India in the wake of the increasing popularity of Jayadeva's Gita Govinda or Ashtapadis. Sopana sangeetham (music), as the very name suggests, is sung by the side of the holy steps (sopanam) leading to the sanctum sanctorum of a shrine. It is sung, typically employing plain notes, to the accompaniment of the small, glasshour-shaped ethnic drum called 'edakka' or idakka, View More

Kummatti kali

Kummattikali or Kummatti Kali is the famous colorful mask-dance of Kerala, South Malabar in particular. During the festival of Onam, Kummattikali performers move from house to house collecting small gifts and entertaining people. Kummatti dances are rampant in the Thrissur district during Onam. Pristine or original form of Kummattikali can be seen in the Bhadrakali temple in Palghat district. The costumes are a most interesting facet of Kummattikali. The dancers don a heavily painted colourful wooden mask depicting faces of Krishna, Narada, Kiratha, Darika, or hunters. These masks are usually made out of saprophyte, jack fruit tree,View More

Uriyadi

The Keralites especially Hindus, celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna as Sree Krishna Jayanti with great fervor and joy. A number of games such as Uriyadi are played on this occasion. Three Uris containing turmeric water, milk and curd are hung up high from a rope stretching between two opposite poles. The rope connecting the three Uris is kept on a pulley and the temple authorities draw this rope high and low standing at a distance.The Uryiadimannan comes in for breaking the Uris. At this time young folk surround him and sprinkle water on his face and eyes by means of hand pumps and plastic mugs in order to divert his attention. View More

Poora kali

Poorakkali is a traditional dance ritual performed by men during the nine-day Pooram festival in Bhagavathy temples across North Malabar in Kerala State of south India. The Pooram festival begins with the Karthika asterism and concludes with the Pooram asterism of the month of Meenam according to the Malayalam calendar to honour Kamadeva, the god of love.The Poorakkali dance itself is performed by a troop of young men decked in lion costumes around a huge, multi-tiered, lit lamp, also known as a "nilavilukku." The dance involves masculine movements and acrobatic, martial art stepsView More

Kuthiyottam

Kuthiyottam is one of the main offering at the Chettikulangara Devi Temple.It is a ritualistic symbolic representation of human bali. Kali is one of the most significant divinities, and many texts and contexts treat Kali as an independent deity, not directly associated with a male god. In case she is associated with a male god, it is invariably Shiva. In this aspect, she represents the omnipotent Shakti of Shiva. She holds both the creative and destructive power of time. The earliest reference to Kali in Hindu tradition date back to the 6th century, and locate her in the battle fields fighting asuras....View More

Parichamuttu kali

Parichamuttu kali is a martial folk-dance usually performed in kerala, the southern state of India.. It is also performed by Christians and some other communities. Its origins date back to when Kalaripayattu, the physical exercise of swordplay and defence, was in vogue in Kerala. The performers dance with swords and shields in their hands, following the movements of sword fight, leaping forward, stepping back and moving round, all the time striking with the swords and defending with shields view our photo gallery for more detailsView More

Chimmana kali

Chimmanakali is an art form of Pulaya of north Kerala, south India. Chimmanam should mean humor or chat. Chimmanakali is associated with Garbhabali known as Kannal Kalampattu. The song sung for this play is known as chothiyum pidiym pattu. Very often speeches braced with humor are held. The incidents are dramatized and presented. Chimmanakali essentially is a satirical form of art performed to point out evils of society.View More

Pootham kali

Pootham kali is a ritualfolk dance performed by the Mannan community of Malappuram district, kerala, the southern state of India. The fifteen minute recital is presented at night in Bhagavathy temples during the Malayalam months Makaram(Capricorn) to Medam(Aries). Poothamkali performers undergo a week's austerities before a recital. It takes rigorous physical training to perfect the art form. Usually, at least three persons participate in a performance. The dancers wearing masks work up a frenzy in rhythm with the accompanying thudi-a percussion instrument.The masks designed in bright colours are carved out of the Pala tree.View More

Sheethankan Thullal

The songs and dance in this form of thullal are slower than Ottan thullal in metre and rhythm and in tempo. The dancer uses a piece of black cloth tied tightly round the head and this is circled with a band of tender, palm leaves giving the impression of a crown. Ornaments representing the full-blown lotus, made once more of palm leaf, adorn the upper arms and wrists, ankle belts, and the feet. The chest is covered with a profusion of bead necklaces and over this is tied a cross-belt. A red cloth is draped round the waist and a long length of white cloth, rather like a bandage, is looped again and again around a waist-string and fixed above this.View More