Art Forms of Kerala

1. Performing Arts
2. Fine Arts

Performing Arts can be further segregated into

a. Classical Art Forms: Kathakali, Kutiyattam, Nangyarkoothu, Chakyar Koothu, and

Krishnanattam, Ramanattam, Mohiniattam
b. Ritual arts: Ayappan Pattu, Paana, Kalamezhuthum Pattum, Poorakkali, Velakali,
Tholpavakoothu, Theeyaattu, Kavadiyattam, Poothanum Thirayum, Duffumuttu, Sarpam
Pattu, Theyyam and Thira, Theyyam, Padayani, Mudiyettu, Thiruvathirakkali, Margam Kali,
Arabanamuttu, Ayappan Theeyattu, Kaalavela, Kaliyoottu, Kuthiyottam, Thidambu Nritham
c. Tribal art forms: Gadhika, Dance and Songs of Irular, Kaanipattu, Kannokupattu, Urali tirbe’s
Malankoothu, Kumbhapattu, Naikkar Kali, Paliya Nritham, Malappulayattam,
Mannankoothu, Mudiyattam

Kathakali is a classical dance form of Kerala, demanding long years of training.

Believed to have evolved from Ramanattam, another classical art form composed by
Kottarakkara Thampuran, Kathakali incorporates the techniques of some of the
major ritual art forms of Kerala.

The characters of Kathakali do not speak and the story is presented through songs
from the background. This makes Kathakali music a very important component of
this art form. The text of Kathakali songs is known as Attakkatha. Chenda,
Maddalam, Chengila and Elaththalam are the instruments used with Kathakali music.

Like most other classical dance forms of India, Kathakali is also based on Natya
Shastra, the ancient treatise on dance, written by Sage Bharata. However, Kathakali
relies on Hasthalakshana Deepika, another classical text for its hand gestures.

A Kathakali performance has different components or steps. They are Keli, Arangu
Keli, Thodayam, Vandana slokam, Purappadu, Melappadam,
Kathabhinayam and Dhanaashi. It needs 6 to 8 hours to present the complete
version of a Kathakali play.

The spectacular costumes and colourful make up are the other major features of
Kathakali. It takes 3-5 hours for the facial make up of most of the characters. The
make up and costume of characters are designed to highlight their characters.

To perform Kathakali, an artist needs minimum 4 to 5 years of training. Kathakali

was in peril and on the verge of extinction in the beginning of 20 th century.
Renowned Poet Vallaththol Narayana Menon and Manakkulam Mukunda Raja took
the initiative to set up Kerala Kalamandalam, a centre of excellence for classical art
forms at Cheruthuruthy in Thrissur. Since then Kerala Kalamandalam works for the
revival of this great art form.
Stories for Kathakali are often taken from Hindu mythology and Indian epics.
Kottayaththu Thampuraan, Unnayi Warrier, Irayimman Thampi, Vayaskara Moos etc.
are some of the major contributors of Attakkatha or the text for Kathakali. The main
Kathakali plays include Kalyana Sougandhikam, Nala Charitham, Uththara Swayam
varam, Duryodhana Vadham, Bali Vadham , Santhana Gopalam etc.

Performing arts occupy a distinct place in Kerala’s heritage. The various art forms
are intertwined with the culture of the land and are blended with the lives of the
people; the art forms were born out of the rich culture of Kerala.

A modest attempt is made to introduce the varied performing arts of Kerala, ranging
from the unique Kutiyattam, the Kerala version of the Sanskrit dance – drama to
Kathakali, Kerala Natanam and other classical art forms. Kalamezhuthu, Sarpam
thullal, Theyyam are still preserved without losing their essential essence and charm.
Velakali calls to mind the interest in warfare of ancient Kerala. Together with the art
forms of the tribal’s, all the classical and ritual art forms provide the art buff both
aural and visual delight. These art forms are in every sense timeless, i.e., beyond
space and time in their uniqueness.

Koodiyattam
The ancient Sanskrit theatrical art form of the state, Kutiyattam is Kerala’s distinctive
stage interpretation of the very early Sanskrit drama as dance drama. Kutiyattam
(Koodiyattam), which is around 2000 years old, has been accepted as one of the
'Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity' by the UNESCO. It is
usually performed only in temple theatres known as Koothambalam by members of
the Chakyar and Nambyar castes till the first half of the 20th century. Only through
rigorous training lasting many years one can aspire to master the craft of Kutiyattam.

The word Kutiyattam literally means "acting together". There are four methods or
types of acting has been mentioned in Sage Bharata’s Natya Shastra –
aangikam (expression using different parts of the body), vaachikam (expression
through speech), sathvikam (expression of physical reactions to emotions)
and aahaaryam (expression through costume, ornaments and props) are all woven
into Koodiyattam performances. A typical Koodiyattam performance involves
elaborate and lengthy acting sequences using hand gestures and distinctive modes
of acting like Ilakiyaattom, Pakarnnaatttom and Irunnaattom.

As mentioned before, Kutiyattam performances are based on Sanskrit plays.

However, only a part of the play is enacted. Thus the performance is named not after
the play but usually in terms of an event that is in focus. As such,
like Vichinnabhishekam, Mayaseethankom and Shoorppanakhaankom. Ankom literal
ly means chapter.
Prathimaabhishekam written by
Bhasan, Swapnavaasavadatham, Prathijnjayougandharaayanam, Oorubhangam, M
adhyama Vyaayogam, Doothavakyam, Naagaanandam by Sriharshan, Aashcharya
Choodamani by Shakthibhadran, Subhadra Dhananjayam by
Kulasekharavarman, Thapathee Samvaranam, Kalyanasaugandhikam by
Neelakantan, Mathavilasom by Mahendra Varman and Bhadavaddujakam by
Bodhayanan.

Today, the presentation of a single ‘ankam’ from one of these plays takes upto eight
days where as in the earlier days it took upto 41 days to complete a single chapter.

The Mizhavu is the main instrument used as accompaniment in a Kutiyattam

performance. Others include Idakka, Shankhu, Kurumkuzhal and Kuzhithaalam.

The temples with koothamablams (temple theatres) for Kutiyattam performance are
Thirumandhamkunnu,, Thiruvaarppu, Thiruvaalathur (Kodumba), Guruvayoor,
Arppokkara, Kidangoor, Peruvanam, Thiruvegappuram, Moozhikkulam,
Thirunakkara, Harippadu, Chengannur, Iringalakkuda and Vadakkumnatha,
Thrissur.

Nangyarkoothu, a classical art form of Kerala, is a popular temple art form of

Kerala. The art form was performed by Nangyars, the female members of the
Nambiar community and hence this name. This art form evolved from Kutiyattam, is
performed by females only and the very same facial make up and costumes of the
female characters of Kutiyattam are used for this too.

Srikrishna Charitham, the story of Lord Krishna is the story often presented in
Nangyarkoothu (Nangyar Koothu). It takes 12 days to present the entire story.
Mizhavu, a percussion instrument is used for the background score. There is no
dialogue and the story is presented via hand gestures. This too was presented only
in Koothambalams or temple theatres within temple premises in the earlier days.

Chakyar Koothu is an art form in which the stories of Hindu mythology and epics are
orally rendered primarily with the support of acting and hand gestures. In the olden days, it
was confined to temple premises. Only the members of the Chakyar community performed
this art form and hence the name Chakyar Koothu. This was performed in temple theatres
called Koothambalam.

In Chakyar Koothu the entire story is presented by a single performer. The costumes are
that of a court jester. Facial make-up is done with rice powder, turmeric powder and black
powder. He wears an ornament in one ear and a betel leaf in the other. An accompanying
artist plays the percussion instrument Mizhavu in the background.
The highlights of Chakyar Koothu, is satire, social criticism, humour and related stories or
episodes presented during the performance. In the olden days of royalty, the Chakyar had
the right to criticise even the King and his acts while performing. The practice was that the
audience should listen to the Chakyar and accept his criticisms. Any opposition to
comments made by the Chakyar while performing would have led to an end in the
performance of the art form in that premises forever.

Krishnanattam
The art form Krishnanattam (literally known as Dance of Krishna) was composed by
King Manavedan, the titular Zamorin of Calicut (Manavedan Raja Samoodhiri of
Kozhikode from 1932 to 1937). King Manavedan wrote Krishnageethi based on the
renowned poet Jayadeva's Gitagovinda. This work in Sanskrit presents the story of
Lord Krishna and the art form Krishnanattam originated from this.

Krishnanattam combines artistic elements of Ashtapadiyattam, a dance form evolved

in Kerala based on Jayadeva's Gitagovinda. (However, Ashtapadiyattam ceased to
exist almost a century ago.)

In Krishnanaattam the story of Krishna right from his birth to his ascent to heaven is
presented in eight parts. In the olden days, it was performed in eight days. There is
no dialogue. The actors render in accordance with the songs from background.
Chengila, maddalam and Elathalam are the accompanying musical instruments. The
make up and costumes are colourful and vibrant.

Ramanattam – Kottarakara Thampuran