Kerala, often referred to as "God's Own Country," is blessed with breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture and boasts a rich heritage of traditional dance forms embodying grace, spirituality, and storytelling. These dance forms, deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of Kerala, have transcended time, captivating audiences with their timeless allure. Here, we explore some of Kerala's prominent dance forms and delve into the unique elements that make them a stunning expression of art.
The Chakyar is the sole performer in Chakyarkoothu, a 2,000-year-old Sanskrit theatre form. He enacts tales from the Puranas and interweaves them with social and political commentaries, all accompanied by simple instrumental music. He also has the liberty to poke fun at the audience, even the VIPs. Nearly all performing arts of India are said to have originated from Chakyarkoothu.
Others differ, claiming that Koodiyattam, said to have originated in the 9th century CE, is the earliest known dramatic art from Kerala. Koodiyattam incorporates the elements of Chaturvinatha abhinaya action, dialogue, attire and physical manifestation of emotion.
Krishnattam, a cycle of eight plays about the life of Krishna, composed to be performed only at the Guruvayur Shree Krishna Temple, is also said to trace its origins to Chakyarkoothu.
Kathakali, the best known of Kerala's performing arts, is a lively dance, which, in its authentic temple form, preserves one distinctive characteristic of its distant ancestor Chakyarkoothu, at a slow pace.
