Kerala, a land known across the world for its art, history, cuisines, culture, and mesmerizing landscapes, is fascinating in all senses. Traditions and art forms preceding the Copper Age are still preserved in this mystical land, and renowned organisations such as UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation) have recognized and honoured many of these extraordinary art forms. Knowing a land’s traditional art forms is one of the crucial steps in getting to know the land itself. Here, let's look into some of the traditional and ritualistic art forms of Kerala.
 

Theyyam

Beyond its beauty and hypnotic nature, traditional and ritualistic art forms are storytelling devices, and apart from the epic stories from the myths and legends of India, Kerala possesses a hoard of local stories told and retold in several ways for centuries. Theyyam is one of the most fascinating and well-known ritualistic art forms in Kerala. Performed predominantly in temples and sacred groves of Northern Malabar, over 400 types of Theyyam have been documented so far. With its vibrant colours and enchanting music, Theyyam portrays gods and goddesses, local deities, heroes, spirits, and ancestors, and believers seek the counsel and blessings of Theyyam because the entrancing artists are deemed to be a channel of god when they perform.
 

Starting in October, the Theyyam period lasts until late May, during which special festivals along with Theyyam are performed in the sacred groves and temples of northern Kerala. There are numerous types of Theyyam, each representing a special deity, hero, or gods and goddesses, and they all have their own unique elaborate face and body painting in red, yellow, black, and white with dyes made of natural ingredients, as well as mesmerizing costumes and headdresses. The music and drumming are another absolutely captivating part of Theyyam, capturing the essence of the primitive characteristics and unique energy of this art form.
 

Tholppavakkoothu

Another unique ritualistic art form, Tholppavakkoothu, is predominantly seen in temples in the Palakkad region. Tholppavakkoothu is a compound word that translates to leather-puppet play, and it is essentially a shadow puppet play depicting the Kamba Ramayana ( a Tamil epic based on the Valmiki Ramayana); however, the narration is generally in a mixture of Tamil and Malayalam. Behind a long white cloth stretched across the stage, puppets made of animal hide are shown, and the light emitting from traditional lamps behind the puppets creates shadows on the cloth. The classical music, rustic appearance, and intricately made puppets make Tholppavakkoothu an enchanting experience for the viewers.

Kathakali

Maybe one of the most popular art forms from Kerala, Kathakali is renowned around the world, and it is one of the defining art forms that represents Kerala outside of its borders. Said to have originated in the 16th century, it is a combination of drama, dance, music, and storytelling, along with stunning traditional makeup and costumes representing various characters.

Traditionally, Kathakali adapts stories from epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana, as well as purnas; however, Kathakali today is expanding and finding stages outside of temples, adapting stories from across the world, including the epics of the legendary playwright Shakespeare. Mesmerizing in all aspects, Kathakali is a visual and musical treat and an exceptionally unique way to listen to the stories we loved growing up.

Mohiniyattam

Mohiniyattam is a classical solo dance form that originated in Kerala and is often mentioned together with Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and other traditional dances from different parts of India. The dance form gets its name from the female avatar of Lord Vishnu, Mohini, who helped the devas overthrow the asuras. Like most of the classical dance forms of India, Mohiniyattam is accompanied by classical music, and it has its roots in the ancient text of performance art, the natya shastra. During the British Raj, Mohinyattam, along with many other temple art forms, was banned, but it was later revived due to the efforts of artists such as the esteemed Malayalam poet Vallathol, who founded the Kerala Kalamandalam, the school of performance art.

 

Conclusion

Kerala is a land rich with numerous traditional classical art forms as well as folkloric and ritualistic art forms. These art forms are intricately woven into the culture of Kerala, making them inseparable; they heavily contribute to the language, literature, and other new art forms of Kerala. Knowing Malayalam will help you take a deep dive and understand these art forms on an intimate level, and Akshharam Malayalam language learning school online is here to help you! We are one of the premium online Malayalam learning schools, helping Malayalis and Malayali children growing up outside of Kerala to connect with their motherland and mother tongue. Connect with us today to learn more about our learning programs!