Amongst the two vocal musicians in Kathakali, the main one is Ponani & the minor partner is Sinkidi & the Kathakali songs, couched in wealthy poetic diction have, enriched Malayalam literature.
All the characters of Kathakali are mythological and have different modes of makeup.
Adornment & attire are reduced to 5 types. They are
1) Pacha ( Green ) representing Noble & virtuous characters
2) Kathi ( Knife ) Unrighteous characters
3) Thadi ( Beard ) Demoniac characters
4) Kari ( Black ) Agressors
5) Minukku ( Polished ) Spiritually inclined characters
While the ornamentation & costumes are elaborate, the large overcoats, the bulging skirts, the antique ornaments - all create a tremendous impression on the viewer, while the facial expressions of the actors along with the celestial music behind create a Virtual Reality or Life out of India's massive mythological literature !
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Kalaripayattu 
This is the most comprehensive
system of Martial Arts, considered as the most ancient & most
scientific in the world. Aiming at the ultimate coordination of body
& mind, training in Kalari includes knowledge of indigenous
medicine also. Kalaris are also centers of Worship.
Ottam Thullal
The most distinguished amongst the Thullal arts, Ottam Thullal was ingeniously devised by a master artist, Kunjan Nambiar. It is written that he was humiliated by a Chakyar, as Nambiar dozed off during a performance. In order to take revenge on his humiliation he wrote a poem depicting an episode from the epic Mahabharata in a never-to-fore metric & pattern rhythmic. A special kind of dance for its exposition was formulated. By innovative methods, humor and the enjoyableness of the programme, he attracted all audiences that had surrounded Chakyar. A new art was born and this was christened as "Ottam Thullal ". The costumes &
crown are copied from Kathakali, with variations. It is a solo dance
with the artiste singing verses to the accompaniment of Mridanga with a
refrain repeater singing behind. Duration of the programme is a couple
of hours. Theyyam
With the dancer wearing special dress & head gears, Theyyam is a
form of spiritual dance performed in temples of the Mother Goddess in
North Malabar. Songs and musical instruments accompany Theyyam.
Chakyarkoothu
This is the oldest amongst the classical theatre arts and the solo dance is usually presented in Temples, to the accompaniment of Elathalam & Mizhavu. Beginning with an Invocation the Deity of the Temple, its narration is enlivened by the Thandava dance movements, facial expression & gestures according to the principles of Natya Shastra. Humour is abound in plentitude in this art and its themes are taken from India's Epic Poetry ( Ramayana & Mahabharatha ).
Miss Dhanya of Zodiac Computers in Mohiniyattyam attire Mohiniyattam The dynamism
& vigour of Kathakali is integrated with the grace of Bharata Natyam
in this beautiful, attractive Art. This dance is performed in connection
with festivals in the Temple. The white cloth ( mundu ) is the costume
& hair is gathered up & put up at the side of the head, Kerala
style, & adorned with jasmine. Dressed in the
traditional style of Kerala, women & girls stand in a circle round a
lighted Lamp ( Nilavilakku ) and they sing and dance around the Lamp.
This is normally performed on the Vedic constellation day of
Thiruvathira ( when the Moon is in the constellation of Aridra ).
Songs praise the deities of the Vedic pantheon.
Kavadiyattam Devotees of the
Commander-in-Chief of the celestials, Lord Muruga, wearing bright yellow
or saffron costumes with ash smeared all over the body, dance in a
frenzy carrying Kavadis on their shoulders. Kavadis are wooden
structures that rise 6 to 10 feet. Ambalakavadi is shaped like a temple
& Pookavadi has clusters of plastic flowers arranged on them.
"Acting together " - this is the meaning of this Art and this Art is enacted inside the theatre of the Vedic Temple. There are always 2 or more characters onstage simultaneously, with Chakiars providing the male cast & Nangiars donning the female robes. Valekali
A martial dance, Velakali originated in Alleppey. It was initiated by Mathoor Panicker, the Chief of the Chempakasseri Army, who promoted it with the noble intention of boosting the martial spirit of the people. Clad in the colorful headgear & the traditional clothes of the Nair soldiers, the dancers engage in dextrous swordplay and vigourous movements to the accompaniment of the Orchestra.
This
solo dance drama is normally performed in front of Dhooli Chitram or
ritual drawing with colored powders in the Temples of the Mother
Goddess. Lord Ganapthi is invoked initially, after which the performer
dons a Crown similar to the one used in Mudiyettu. It
depicts the grand Duel between Goddess Kali & the demon Darika, the
negative and the positive elements in Man. A mask dance popular in North Kerala. The dancers go dancing from house to house. The major Kummatti character is Thalla or Witch while others represent the various deities of the Vedic pantheon. Songs are basically devotional & are normally accompanied by a bow like instrument called Ona-villu. Spectators generally join in the performance as no training is required in this Art.
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Some Kerala Art Links
