KALAPRADIBHAYAYA KERALAM

Kerala is famous for its art, poets and musicians, its traditional dance forms, and its distinctive architecture. For ages, the rich and vibrant culture of Kerala has intrigued people worldwide. The songs and dances of the people, their ballads, their rituals and their intellectual pursuits. Truly, the real treasures of Kerala lay in the cultural heritage of its people. Kerala has its own typical art forms which reflect the life and outlook of the people.
KRISHNANAATTAM

Krishnanaattam was the dance-drama created by the Zamorin of Calicut, which deals with the life and activities of Lord Krishna. Its technique had the foundation of the folk drama and its content had a religious inspiration. It is believed that the Zamorin had a vision of Lord Krishna who gave the chieftain a peacock feather, which became the living symbol of this dance drama. Krishnanaattam players wore a peacock feather and thus commemorated the vision of the chieftain. Krishnanaattam's pattern of art was based on the Geetha Govinda. Geetha Govinda describes the turmoil in the love life of Krishna and Radha through words spoken by Krishna, Radha and a sakhi, companion.The stories of Krishnanaattam are borrowed from the Bhaagavata, and are meant to be performed on eight successive nights. The series commences with Avataaram, the manifestation of Vishnu in his incarnation as Krishna, and is followed by kaaliyamardana, Raasakreeda, Kamsavadham, Swayamvaram, Baanayuddham, Vividhavadham and Swargaarohanam, each dealing with one major episode in his life.

KATHAKALI

Kerala’s soul. It was believed that Kathakali was conceived from Krishnanaattam, the dance drama on the life and activities of Lord Krishna . The reason for that is said as Kathakali literally meaning 'story-dance' is the dance-drama of Malabar which is now culturally and politically known as follows: Once Kottarakkara Thampuran the Raja of Kottarakkara who was attracted by the tone of the Krishnanaattam requested the Zamorin for the loan of a troupe of performers on the eve of some festive occasion. Due to internal feuds and political rivalry between them, the Zamorin refused to send the performers and insulted with the remarks: ”It is useless to depute the troupe, because Kottarakkara Thespian’s court would be neither able to appreciate nor understand anything of the highly artistic Krishnanaattam and the high standard of the performance.

Kottarakkara Thampuran initiated a parallel mode of entertainment, which he called Raamanaattam which was later transformed into Aattakatha, and yet later into Kathakali while Krishnanaattam based on the story of Lord Krishna's activities, Raamanaattam described the complete story of Lord Raman. Krishnanaattam was written in Sanskrit, "the language of the Gods". Raamanaattam was in Malayalam, the language of the people. By the end of the seventeenth century, the finished product of Raamanaattam was placed before the world under the tittle Kathakali.
CHAAKYAAR KOOTHU

The Chaakyaar community is a group which earns its livelihood by performing Chaakyaar koothu and Koodiyaattam. The Chaakyaar koothu consists of two parts of which one is action and the other narration . In the earlier days, the action part of it was known as koothu. There are different types of koothu, known by different names like Mantraangam koothu, Anguliiyaangam koothu, Parakkum koothu, Matta Vilaasam koothu etc. When more than one actor performs on the stage, it is called Koodiyaattam. If the actors are not more than one, it is called Chaakyaar koothu. Chaakyaar koothu, is the narrration of Puranic stories by the Chaakyaars who wear the attire of a joker and tell the story humourously. Chaakyaar koothu is one of the plays performed in temples. This is enacted in the special dance hall called Koothambalam, connected to the temples. It is performed by people belonging to the Chaakyaar community. The word koothu is derived from the Sanskrit term, Koordanam which means ‘dance’.

KOODIYAATTAM

The art form Koodiyaattam is the forerunner of the dramatic arts of Kerala. The term Koodiyaattam signifies ‘Joint action’ by Chaakkyaars and Nangyaars propounding exclusively Sanskrit dramas. Literally, the name means ’composite dancing’. It is a composition of dramatics, abhinaya and dancing. It is perhaps the oldest dance-drama in existence in India. Koodiyaattam is presented by members of the Chaakkyaar community.Koodiyaattam is presented as a votive offering in Koothambalams, special theatres put up inside the precincts of temples. The perfomance is based on Sanskrit texts. A single act of Koodiyaattam play may be staged for 10 to 15 days, each day for two or three hours. The Malabari has a small story for Koodiyaattam.

MOHINIAATTAM

Mohiniaattam is a classical dance that adopts a mean between the two parallel streams of classical dances – Bharatanaatyam and kathakali – in technique and style, both fixed according to Naatya Shastra, the scriptures of the Indian classical tradition.
The fusion is remarkable because the effect created by the blending of the graceful elegance of Bharatanaatyam with the earthy vigour and dynamism of kathakali has a subtle, seductive appeal that is at once charming and alluring.Mohiniaattam means the dance of the enchantress.It is believed that, Bharata, the author of Naatya Shastra, learnt the various arts from Lord Brahma himself, the God of creation, and imparted it to his one hundred and five sons. They in turn taught the rest.

THEYYAM
Theyyam or Theyyaattam is a pattern of hero worship performed in Kolathunaad, a territory comprising the present Cannanore District and Badagara Taluk of Kerala State. It is a ritual and a folk-dance form supported by a vast literature of folk songs. Theyyam is a corruption for Deyvam ‘God’. 'Aattam' means dance. Thus 'Theyyaattam' means the God’s Dance. In Kolathunaad and other places (Southern portion of Kolathunaad), Theyyam is known as Thira or Thirayaattam. There, the performance is conducted on a masonry stage called Thara and the word Tharayaattam was probably changed into Thirayaattam in course of time. The term Thirayaattam itself may mean beautiful dance.

OTTANTHULLAL

Among the classical performing arts of Kerala, Thullal is distinct for its simplicity of presentation, wit and humour. It follows the classical principles of Natyasasthra (a treatise on art compiled in the 2nd century B.C). Ottanthullal is the most popular among its three varieties. The other two are Seethankan and Parayan Thullal.
Thullal is a solo performance combining dance and recitation of stories in verse. Staged during temple festivals, the performer explicates the verses through expressive gestures. Themes are based on mythological stories.
Thullal was introduced in the 18th century by the famous Malayalam poet Kunchan Nambiar. Humour, satire and social criticism are the hallmarks of this art form. The Thullal dancer is accompanied by a singer who repeats the verses. The orchestra consists of the Mridangam or the Thoppi Maddalam and a pair of cymbals.