All posts in Kerala Art forms

Chavittu Nadakam – colourful Christian dance drama

Chavittu Nadakam is a Christian dance drama performed in some parts of Kerala. This colourful classical form of art is prevalent among the Syrian Christian community and symbolize the martial traditions existed among them

It came into existence after the advent of the Portuguese to the Malabar shores coast for trade and missionary work. As per the history, Portuguese felt a vacuum in the cultural arena. What they needed is a vehicle to spread the myths and legends they held in reverence. They were impressed with the sway of Kathakali but obviously felt that it would be unwise to graft their legends on to the Kathakali dance drama. The solution was to create a distinctive dance drama of their own. So most of the times the stories related to Christianity or Western history or Biblical stories are played.

Inspiration of the western opera type of theatre was can be seen in Chavittu Nadakam. The texts were written in old Tamil. The acting techniques, stage structure and treatment of the plot were all western. The influence of Kathakali can be seen in the use of curtains and in certain elements of the costumes. The influence of Kalaripayattu is evident from the vivacious fighting scenes.

Chavittu Nadakam is usually performed on open stages. Sometimes the interior of a church is also a location. Training is provided to performers before staging the play. The master is known as Annavi. The whole play is performed through musicals. The performers wear glittering Greco-Roman costumes. The bell and drum are two instruments used as background score. The language used is a colloquial blend of Tamil and Malayalam.

A peculiar feature of this drama art is the actors stamping the dance floor to emphasize the dramatic situations. Hence literally Chavittu Nadakam means ‘Stamping Drama’. The play is considered a success if at the end, the platform collapses from pressure of all the kicking and stamping.

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Kalaripayattu

Kalaripayattu is the world famous martial art form of Keralaand it is also considered as the mother of all martial arts. Kalaripayattu is the oldest existing martial art form, dating back more than 3000 years and said to be the forerunner of popularly known Chinese martial arts, as the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma took this knowledge from India to China. The Kalaripayattu were revived in Kerala in the 20th century, mainly due to the efforts  C.V  Narayana Panikker  and his disciples who established CVN Kalari all over Kerala.    (more…)

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Mural tradition of Kerala

Artist G.Azhicode, a devotee of the Art, recreates the beauty of the mural tradition of Kerala. His basic trend is the Indian view that line is the soul of drawing. He is a recipient of the Senior Fellowship, Ministry of Culture, Government of India recently. (more…)

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Pulikkali

Pulikkali folk form is prominent in Thrissur and is held in connection with Onam.   Pulikkali performers are men and they paint their body and face meticulously to resemble tigers.  They move in group and dance to the tune of percussions and enact scenes of playing hide and seek with a hunter wielding a gun.   On this day, over 500 tigers are move through the street of Swaraj Round in Thrissur.   This sportive event usually lasts for hours.

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C V N Kalari

Kalarippayattu is considered as the mother of all martial art forms. It is a part of Kerala’s integral culture and heritage. It is a blend of physical and mental prowess, martial techniques and indigenous medical system. This hand to hand form with arms is not only unique to Kerala but also to the rest of India. The Kalari is a practice ring, or training centre, on the lines of a gymnasium and Payattu means duel. Hence Kalarippayattu means martial skills learnt in a ring. The C V N Kalari Sangham was established in 1956 after lifelong dedicated efforts of C V Narayanan Nair, C V Balan Nair and Kottackal Karunakara Gurukkal. They are pioneers in this field and take the credit of popularizing this dying art. They popularized it by staging demonstrations, collecting information and establishing Kalaris across the State. (more…)

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Padayani Introductory Steps

Padayani-Introductory-Steps

Padayani Introductory Steps

Padayani Introductory Steps - Padayani is the combination of music, dance , painting, satire etc. Chamayam or Padayani costume and make-up is the painted Paala mask and Kuruthola. Kolam leaf sheaths number 9,16,51,64,84,101, etc., the larger ones not being used as a head dress, but only carried on the shoulders. Colours and dyes are made from natural materials like brick, ash, tumeric, etc.

Padayani’s essential elements comprise of Kolamezhuthu, Kolamthullal, Malayootu and Choottuveyppu. Kolamezhuthu refers to the drawing of kolams or images of deities on green arecanut leaf sheaths using natural colours;Kolappattu are the devotional prayers to deities; Thappumelam is the rendering of the percussion instrument called Thappu.  Kolamthullal refers to the rhythmic footsteps in tune with Kolappattu and Thappumelam; Malayootu involves creating a forest like ambience and Chootuveyppu, lighting the choottu (bundle of dried coconut fronds).

Every Padayani Karappuram (Padayani venue) has its own rituals and kolams, but they are all performed in a similar sequence. The first one is usually the Ganapathi or Pisachu Kolam. The second day performance is Panchakolam which includes Ganapathi, Marutha, Yakshi, Pakshi and Madan.Next is the Kalan Kolam, Bhairavi, etc. Bhairavi Kolam is made up of 16-1001 arecanut leaf sheaths. Chattathekkolam (made on a chattam or frame) of the largest, with 1001 leaf sheaths.

Kanjiramala(garland made up of flowers of strychnos nuxvomica) is a special feature of the Bhairavi Kolam which is performed at the Mundankavu Temple in Chengannur,Kerala. There are mainly 18 types of Yakshi, Sundara Yakshi, Ambara Yakshi, Maya Yakshi, Kolina Yakshi, etc. Pakshi Kolams are believed to cure diseases that afflict children.

Padayani instruments include Thappu, Kaimani, Thudi, Para, Thakil, Maddalam, Chenda etc. Padayanimusic has different Thalam or rhythms like Adantha, Muriyadantha, Otta, Murukkam, etc.

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Padayani beginning and conclusion of rituals

Padayani beginning and conclusion of rituals

Padayani beginning and conclusion of rituals

Padayani – beginning and conclusion of rituals - Padayani is celebrated during the Malayalam months of Kumbham, Meenam, Medam ( February, March and April) Padayani at each region has special feature when moving from one village to another.“The basic old Padayani is the Markandeya Puranam, especially for Kalankolam which has five faces (also called Kalarikolam or Sivakolam). It is believed that devotees who conduct or make an offering of a Padayani will be blessed by the gods and granted their wishes”, said Mr. Sydarsan, an expert of Kolamezhuthu and Thullal.

Essential parts of Padayani are Kolamezhuthu, Kollamthullal, Kollappattu, Thappumelam, Vinodam.  Just before padayani begins, the performers create a forest-like ambience called ‘Malayoottu’,which is said to be favourable for welcoming the deity. The first step of Padayani is choottuveyppu for which a bundle of Choottu is lighted and handed over to the Padayani Ashan (Master) by the head priest of the temple amidst kurava and arppuvili (peculiar vocal sounds produced by the attending womenfolk to signal the auspicious occasion). After Pradakshinam (circling the temple), the lighted choottu are placed at the southwestern corner of the temple. The Ashan perform  at a time of day favourable to Goddess Paravathi.

The concluding sequence in Padayani is a prayer to Bhagavati for salvation from sins and a plea for protection against all contagious diseases. Spectators from different parts of Kerala come to have a glimpse of  Padayani – the rare ritualistic form.

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