Kerala (India) is known as "God's own Country" is well known for its diverse forms of performing arts. The various communities in Kerala contribute to its rich and colorful culture. Kerala is a haven for the lover of dance, drama and music and festivals.You have scores of art forms, which are quite unique in nature to Kerala, like Kathakali, Ottamthullal, Chakyar koothu,Krishnanattam,Koodiyattam,Padayani, Kalaripayattu, Pavakathakali, Theyyam, Velakali, Thiruvathirakali, Kolkali, etc.
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| The great artist Ravi Varma's painting |
This old style solo dance structure consolidates the agile tastefulness of bharatanatyam with the energy and dynamism of kathakali, to make a mind-set that is overwhelmingly sringara (sensual). The dance is generally performed on uncommonly set up stages regarding sanctuary celebrations. The ensemble is the conventional white mundu and melmundu of kerala. The hair is accumulated and set up along the edge of the head and embellished with jasmine, int the customary style.
Arjuna nritham (the dance of Arjuna) is a custom craftsmanship performed by men and is pervasive in the Bhagavathy sanctuaries of Kerala. Arjuna, the most brave of the five gallant siblings - the Pandavas - of the epic Mahabharatha, was likewise a prestigious vocalist and artist and is said to have appeased goddess Bhadrakaali by a devotional show.
Nangyar Koothu is a variety of the Koothu performed by the Nangiars or the female individuals from the Chakkiar people group. This is a performance dance dramatization fundamentally focused on the legends of Sree Krishna. Srikrishna Charitham, the tale of Lord Krishna is the story regularly introduced in Nangyarkoothu (Nangyar Koothu). It requires 12 days to introduce the whole story. Mizhavu, a percussion instrument is utilized for the foundation score. There is no discourse and the story is introduced by means of hand motions. This also was introduced distinctly in Koothambalams or sanctuary theaters inside sanctuary premises in the prior days.
Thiruvathirakali is a dance performed by ladies, to achieve never-ending conjugal happiness, on Thiruvathira day in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (December-January). The dance is a festival of conjugal constancy and the female energy, for this is the thing that presented to Kamadeva (the divine force of adoration) back to life after he was burnt up by the fury of Lord Siva. The twisted developments executed by a gathering of artists around a nilavilakku, exemplify 'lasya' or the passionate appeal and elegance of the ladylike. The dance follows a round, pirouetting design joined by applauding of the hands and singing. Today, Thiruvathirakali has become a famous dance structure for all seasons.
Koodi = consolidated. Aattom = play, execution and so forth Koodiyattom is the most antiquated Sanskrit theater of Kerala, which has as of late been perceived by the UNESCO, as the most unmistakable auditorium structure that keeps up with and proliferates the verbal modes in performance center styles. Students of history have followed its vestige to pre-AD days. The Chakkyar people group has been rehearsing for quite a long time, this dramatic craftsmanship as an innate family calling. The Nangiars (ladies) alone handle the female characters. They are from the focal just as the southern districts of Kerala. Koodiyattom is customarily performed inside the exceptionally assembled fabricating called 'koothambalam', inside the regions of specific sanctuaries. There is a particular region, characterized for the exhibition. The crowd require certain measure of insightful readiness to completely appreciate the content and the subtleties, as there is significant weight on the utilization of Sanskrit language, in techniques determined by the ideas stringently clung to in Sanskrit theater. The plays are so intricate and long, that scarcely one sees the entire play being organized. Just a demonstration is frequently introduced, which itself will require a few days to be finished. The preliminary systems and stage business are profoundly many-sided and exact, that one necessities to go through long periods of preparing starting at a youthful age of eight or ten. In any event, during the presentation, it's difficult the content that is sanctioned. A few unessential issue are gotten for explanation and instructive allure. There is, notwithstanding, a male control in the plays and execution. In 2002, Natanakairali in relationship with the Ammannur Chachu Chakyar Smaraka, Gurukulam, Irinjalakkuda, arranged Sakuntalam, which has prime significance to Sakuntala, a female person.