The exotic Kerala culture has attracted the people throughout the world. Its rich heritage is known by its songs and dances,ballads; ritualsand intellectualpursuits.Its own typical art forms replicate the life and outlook of the folks in an enchanting way.The Kathakali dance isthought  to synthesizes all that's best within the sphere of drama, music and dance that reflect the regular impulses of common people. Even, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization and declared – Koodiyattom as one of the ‘Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The oldest form of dance called Koodiyattom, (literally, dance together) is taken from the Sanskrit theatre of Kerala that is believed to have originated about two millennia years ago. Kerala owes its multinational fame to the present nearly three hundred years recent classical dance type which mixes sides of ballet, opera, masquerade and therefore pantomime. The dance evolved from different humanistic discipline like Kalarippayattu ,Kootiyattam and Krishnanattam .The Kathakali  dance postures expounds beliefs and stories from Puranas and other religious epics.

About Art Forms of Kerala

For times immemorial, the splendid and vivacious culture of Kerala has lured the people through out the world. Their songs, folk dance, ballads, rituals, intellectual-pursuits are actually the important Kerala treasures which lies within culture of its folks. Kerala is having different typical forms of art that replicate their life. From the illustrious Kathakali, thought of to be a whole form because it synthesizes all that's best within music, drama, dance, field and that are reflection of the regular people impulse. Recently, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization dropped at light-weight, a less celebrated form - Koodiyattom - and declared it jointly among the 'Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible tradition of civilization. In the history of United Nations it happened the first time that its Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization that choose art forms across the globe are given this recognition as a part of its effort to safeguard expressions of oral heritage and ancient culture that are at risk of disappearing thanks to the consequences of economic process. Given here are the descriptions of varied classical folks and self-defence skills of Kerala.

Classical Art Forms of Kerala

The ancient form of dance called  Koodiyattom, (literally, dance together) is that the Sanskrit theatre of Kerala that is believed to have  originated  about two millennia years ago. The plays are written in Sanskrit language with the Chakyars or  the male roles and therefore the Nangiars (women of the Nambiar community) activity or the feminine roles. The Vidushaka or clown recites the South Dravidian translation for the good thing about the audience. Manipravalam, a mix of Sanskrit and South Dravidian language owes its origin to Koodiyattom.

Kathakali

It is the preferred to be Kerala’s sacred drama in the form of dance.  It rose across last four hundred years.  It needs long and rigorous coaching to realize complete body management and sensitivity to feelings to enable to show its forms via gestures of handand face expressions.

The Kerala state owes multinational fame to the present nearly three hundred years recent classical dance type which mixes sides of ballet, masquerade, opera, and therefore the pantomime. It is evolved from different humanistic discipline like Kalarippayattu ,Kootiyattam and Krishnanattam .The Kathakali  dance postures expounds stories and beliefs  from the Puranas and Indian epics.

Presented within precincts of temple, once gloaming falls it is publicised by Kelikottu form or beating up drums to accompany Chengila (gong). Amazing wealth of a cheerful mixing of colours, music , dance expressions,drama and are incomparable in the other form.

Chakyarkoothu

Koothu could be a solo narrative performance interspersed with mime and comic interludes. This socio-religious art performed within the Koothambalam or the Koothuthara of temples, is either severally or as a part of Kootiyattam. Through the irreproducible narration of stories from the epics (The Ramayana and therefore the Mahabharata), the Chakkiar satirises the manners and practices of the time. His waggishness ranges from innocent sarcasm to disguised suggestions, barbed gag and bitter tirades. Koothu is intermittently in the course of the instrument Mizhavu.

Folk Art Forms of Kerala

Krishnanattam

Krishnanattam because the name recommend, originated as a consecrated providing to Sree avatar. The Performance, bases on the Sanskrit text avatar Geethi, is given across eight nights. The costume and make-up of Krishnanattam bear traces of a likeness to Kathakali and folks arts like Theyyam and Mudiyettu. The names of the musical instruments used arechengila, maddalam and elathalam. All these three types  of performances  is  recognized by the classical Indian tradition, viz., acting, singing and dance is vital in Krishnanattam. The language is Sanskrit and therefore the singing is completed in sopanam vogue. A particular feature of Krishnanattam is that the use of masks by a number of the characters. Krishnanattam performances begin at midnight once the ritual closing of the temples' sandum sandorum. Krishnanattam is mostly performed within the Guruvayoor temple located in Thrissur.

Mohiniyattam

Literally Mohiniyattam means a dance with enchantress(celestial), this dance sort of Kerala, contains parts of Bharathanatyam also because folks and dances of Kerala.  Mohiniyattam is typically solo performance dance. It is extremely lyrical of its own rendering.

Graceful, slow and  swaying movement of limbs and body  and extremely sensual gestures of hands and eyes are distinctive to the present dance type. The sober and simple elegant golden filigreed apparel, in ivory or white color is comparable to the normal apparel of the Kerala ladies. Mohiniyattom origin of is stock-still from Hindu mythologies. It is believed that milk ocean was whipped by demons and Gods to separate immortality pot from it . The demons snatched that pot and ran away.

One Hindu deity took feminine incarnation for rescuing pot for the frightened Gods and named Mohini luring demons by her seducing charms in a bid to snatch that pot from demons and finally restored  it back to Gods. The following school of dance was embraced by the temple dancers called Devadasis.Hence, it was named as 'Dasiattam' that became  popular throughout the reign of cheras from ninth to twelfth century.

Patakam

Patakam (literally, dissertation) is analogous to Koothu in subject,movements and poses. However, the narration in this dance is a sequence of prose and songseries. The costume is in red colour consisting of  a red wear and a red silk sashaying  joint band. The entertainer conjointly wears serious garlands round the neck and thick lines of shoe paste across the forehead. Patakamis ,also, performed outside the temples.

Kanniyarkali

Kanniyarkali or Deshathukali is a ritual art and a swift dance type performed to the accompaniment of pious folks songs and therefore the reverberating drum beats are  typically staged in Bhagavathy temples.

Theyyam

Theyyam is said to be the corrupt sort of Deivam or God.However, Theyyam is one in all the foremost outstanding folks arts of Kerala and has its origin within the northern components of the State. known as Thirayattam, (because each Thira or village performed this pattern art at the village temple) this primitive pattern art reflects options of a social group culture. It is performed in temples and kavus (sacred groves) to settle the deities and a Theyyam acts as a medium between the immortal and the follower.

Martial Art Forms of Kerala

Kalaripayattu

This comprehensive system of martial arts, considered one in all the oldest and most scientific within the world, evolved in North Kerala. The State has created many an hero whose exploits notice expression in folks songs and legends. one in all them, ThacholiMeppayilKunhiOthenan has been immortalized in vadakkanpattukal (northern ballads) jointly of its greatest exponents.

Velakali

Velakali could be a ritual art wherever fifty or additional performers within the ancient apparel of troopers, bearing vibrant shields and swords, dance with war like steps in excellent orchestration to the thakil, suddha maddalam, elathalam and kuzhal. it's known as thirumumbil vela once performed before the immortal and kulathilvela once performed close to the temple pool. some fighting techniques of Kalaripayattu also are enclosed within the performance.

Parisakali

Parisakali was developed by the Mappilas of North Kerala as a genre. it's a game compete within the sort of a mock fight by boys holding short sticks in one hand and a red straw-board protect within the different.