TRADITIONAL ARTS AND ARTISTES OF KERALA - ARCHIVE
	Some Thoughts on Mohiniattam, by Pallavi Krishnan... Kerala is a land blessed with classical arts unlike any other States of India. Mohiniattam is one of the most lyrical classical dance forms of India, originating from Kerala. The word Mohini stands for an enchantress, a beautiful woman who seduces others for a particular purpose. Attam means dance. So Mohiniattam is the dance of the enchantress. The tradition of this dance form sustained through the contributions of two veterans, Guru Kalyanikutti Amma and Guru Satyabhama. While Guru Kalyanikutty Amma's was an effort at her individual level, Guru Sathyabhama got the platform of the Kerala Kalamandalam, where since 1957, until her retirement as its Principal in 1993, she was faculty... Read More from boloji.com
Kalamandalam Balasubrahmaniam showing Mudra of Lotus in KATHAKALI. It is the classical dance-drama of Kerala, South India, which dates from the 17th century and is rooted in Hindu mythology. Kathakali has a unique combination of literature, music, painting, acting and dance. Kathakali follows "Hasthalakshana Deepika", the book of hand gestures, for Mudras (hand gestures). There are 24 Basic Mudras (hand gestures) in the "Hasthalakshana Deepika", the book of hand gestures, which Kathakali is followed. The Navarasams (Facial Expressions) are 1.Sringaram (Amour), 2.Hasyam (Ridicule), 3.Karunam (Pathos), 4.Rowdram (Wrath), 5.Veeram (Valour), 6.Bhayanakam (Fear), 7.Beebhalsam (Disgust), 8.Athbhutham (Wonder), 9.Santham (Tranquility). The details can be read from the following site... Read More from cyberkerala.com
Sunanda Nair has the proud privilege of being the first student to earn a Master's degree in Mohini Attam from Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalay affiliated to the University of Mumbai. Sunanda is the disciple of the noted Mohini Attam exponent Padmashree Dr.(Smt)Kanak Rele, who is renowned for her contribution to the revival and popularisation of this classical dance style. Sunanda has very reputed national and international festivals to her credit, and has won high acclaim from both the critics and conossieurs of dance for her impressive dancing. She has choreographed innumerable items in Mohini Attam and BharatNatyam. Read More from www.sunandanair.com
Ottan Thullal , the dance form of Kerala is yet another gem in the vast repertoire of Kerala's performing arts. It has from its very inception, enjoyed a ready appeal with both the commoner and the connoisseur for unlike forms such as Koodiyattam, Krishnanattam, Kathakali and Mohiniyattam, it requires no initiation to intelligently respond to it. Kunchan Nambiar, the poet, social critic and humorist who lived two centuries ago was the pioneer behind this dance form... Read More from www.meadev.nic.in
Kalaripayatt is believed to be one of the oldest and comprehensive system of martial training prevailing in the world today. Though Kalaripayatt is the ancient martial art of KERALA, it is considered as the forerunner of all martial arts. The training consists of rigorous physical training besides training in self-discipline. The weapons used are the Sword, Shield, Dagger, Spear etc. and it requires whole co-ordination of the mind & body. Read More from www.keralalink.com
Koodiyattam , Sanskrit drama performed in Kerala, India, has been recognised by UNESCO as a Human Heritage Art. Rightly so. It is the oldest existing classical theatre form in the entire world, having originated much before Kathakali and most other theatrical forms. It is considered to be at least 2000 years old. Kulasekhara Varma Cheraman Perumal, an ancient King of Kerala was known as the creator of Koodiyattam... Read More from www.cyberkerala.com
Chakyar Koothu is a classical dance performed by the member of the professional Chakyar caste that too only in Koothambalam of temples. It is one of the oldest of theatrical arts peculiar to Kerala. The term Koothu literally means dance which may be taken as an index of the importance attached to dance in the original form of the art. As a matter of fact, the movements and facial expressions and the signs and gestures employed by the actor in Koothu are said to approximate most closely to the principles laid down in the authoritative Sanskrit treatise on the subject, Bharatha's Natya Sastra. Read More from www.artkerala.com
Shobana is a an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer who runs a dance school and has worked on collaborative ventures with the likes of tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, Vikku Vinayakram and Mandolin Srinivas.. Her recitals abroad include those at the World Malayalee convention, in the United States in 1985 and 1995, in Kuala Lumpur before the King and Queen of Malaysia, numerous cities in the United States, Europe, South East Asia and Australia. She has had the distinction of inaugurating the dance and music season in Madras in 1992 at the Music Academy - the bastion of classical art... Read More from Kalarpana.Tripod.Com
Thiruvathira or Kaikottikkali is a popular dance form of the women folk of Kerala. In this, eight to ten girls perform forming a circle by themselves. They sing and dance to the rhythm of clapping hands. Essentially a Kerala dance, hence the danseuse wear the typical dress of Kerala (Mundu and Veshti) with their hair beFebked with jasmine flowers. Read More from MeaDev.Nic.In
Teyyam is a ritualistic dance with its rare and grotesque make-up and costume, lively foot work, gymnastic fervour and ritualistic vitality. Teyyam represents a glorious period of folk life in Kerala and the souls of the dead heroes of the land and the gods and goddesses are supposed to come in our midst through the medium of the possessed dancers and converse with us on matters of even contemporary significance. It is the worship of spirits by invoking them to the mortal body of the dancer who impersonates them and gives blessing to the believers. Teyyam evolves from Kaliyattam practiced by aboriginal tribes of northern regions of the state. In the worship of certain Teyyams, intoxicant liquor as an offering is not forbidden. Kuttichattan, Khantakarnam are among the deities of the tamasic for whom liquor is an inevitable item. Read More from WebIndia123.Com
Kalamezhuthu is unique form of this art found only in Kerala. Here it is essentially a temple art. The patterns to be drawn and the colours chosen are traditionally stipulated, and the tradition is strictly adhered to. The art of creating very large pictures on floor, with coloured powders have been in vogue for ages as a ritual art form. It is typically Indian as it is a harmonic blend of Arian, Dravidian and Tribal traditions. As an art form it has found a significant place among our rich spectrum of fine arts. The drawing is done directly with the hand, that is, without using any tools whatsoever. Read More from CyberKerala.Com
The cultural performances at Theera Mahotsavam 2002, a festival of fisherfolk held in Thiruvananthapuram recently, were a cocktail of tradition and modernity, belief and practice. Fisherfolk from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Sri Lanka participated in the South India Fisherfolk Festival, organised for the first time by the South Indian Federation of Fishermen Societies (SIFFS) from October 14 to 16, 2002. There were a few presentations of folk music too. Read More from CyberKerala.Com
Margomkali is a ritual folk art of the Syrian Christians of Kottayam and Thrissur districts. A dozen dancers sing and dance around a lighted wick lamp, clad in the simple traditional white dhoti and sporting a peacock feather on the turban to add a touch of colour. This is an allegorical enactment with the lamp representing Christ and the performers his disciples. Read More from ArtKerala.Com
Oppana is a popular form of social entertainment among the Muslim community of Kerala prevalent all over, especially in the northern districts of Canaonore, Calicut and Malappuram. It is generally presented by females, numbering about fifteen including musicians, on a wedding day. The bride dressed in all finery, covered with gold ornaments is the chief spectator who sits on a peetam, around which the singing and dancing take place. Read More from MalayalamResource...
Kalamandalam is the pioneering institution preserving and promoting the Kalluvazhi school of Kathakali. The late Pattikkaamthoti Ravunni Menon was its doyen. He chiselled the techniques of acting in Kathakali in tune with the text and context of the Kathakali plays. Credit for integrating vocal and instrumental music in Kathakali to its visual rhythm goes exclusively to Ravunni Menon. Ravunni Menon breathed Kathakali and became the mentor of all the outstanding artists in the field. Menon gave his inestimable services to Kalamandalam till 1943. His demise was in 1948. Read More from Kalamandalam.Com
Brahmasree Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri (44), resident of Puthumana Illam, Chemmattam Vayal, Kanhangad is a famous Thidampu Nritham artist (expert) at temples. He has performed at almost all the temples (around 150) in north kerala for the past 25 years. He follows entirely THEKKAN SAILI (South Kerala Style) and has excelled in this area. He has recieved many honours during the past years from well known temples. His style of performing Thitampu Nritham is unique and makes attractive to the viewers even without the knowledge of this divine art. It is always found that there will be a large crowd to watch this performance from far places. Read More from Gods-Own-Country.Info
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