ART & CULTURE :
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| Kerala has
a rich cultural heritage which matches the beauty of the land and
the vibrancy of its people.
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| Kuchipudy
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Kuchipudi
derives its name from the village of Kuchelapuram, in Andhra
Pradesh, India. As a classical form of dance, drama and music
Kuchipudi enjoys a unique place among the Indian classical idioms.
Kuchipudi grew largely as a product of the Bhakti movement beginning
in the seventh century A.D. However, it was in the 14th century
that the ascetic Siddhendra Yogi appeared on the scene and gave
Kuchipudi a new definition and direction.
Kuchipudi was originally a male dance tradition. Groups of men
traveled from village to village enacting stories from the Hindu
mythology. As in Elizabethan theatre men portrayed the roles
of women. It was only in last 9 or 10 decades that women were
introduced to this art form. Kuchipudi in its present form is
the result of the vision of stalwarts like Vempati Chinna Satyam
and the late Vedantam Laxminarayana Shastry.
Kuchipudi is characterized by fast rhythms and fluid movements,
creating a unique blend of control and abandon, strength and
delicacy.
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| Bharata
Natyam : : |
| Bharata
Natyam was the dance technique evolved in the South of India
in Tamil Nadu and practiced in the temples of Shiva. It is a
highly specialised science with a traditional background and
rigid codes and conventions. Bharata Natyam skillfully embodies
the three primary ingredients of dancing. They are bhava or
mood, raga or music and melody and tala or timing. The technique
of Bharata Natyam consists of 64 principles of coordinated hand,
foot, face and body movements which are performed to the accompaniment
of dance syllables. The music is classical carnatic. As the
name implies it is the dance of the charmer. Its origin is a
matter of conjecture, but it retains a lovely fusion of the
parallel streams of dance in the estern and western regions
of South India.Combining the formal grace and elegance of Bharathanatyam |
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| Mohiniyattom
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| Mohini
the temptress, is a recurring character in Hindhu mythology.
Attom means dance. It is seductive dance performed by women,
sensuous in its appeal. In technique Mohiniyattom lies somewhere
between Kathakali and Bharathanatyam, Lyrical in the extreme
keynote is coquetry. The symmetrical patterns of emotion flow
in balanced nuances with smooth footwork, somewhat quickened
body movements and special music.Parallel to the Barathanatyam
of Tamil Nadu., solo Mohiniyattom dance is performed only by
women. The music is classical carnatic. As the name implies
it is the dance of the charmer. Its origin is a matter of conjecture,
but it retains a lovely fusion of the parallel streams of dance
in the estern and western regions of South India.Combining the
formal grace and elegance of Bharathanatyam, with the earthy
vigour and dynamism of Kathakali the petalled nrita hands of
the one with the wide stance of the other,the delicate expressions
of the one with the stylised eye movements of the other, it
co- ordinates the instinct with charm, subtle allure and seductive
appeal. |
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| Theyam
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Kerala, the land of charity,
is rich in folk-culture, visual arts and festivals. Different
religions, groups and communities in their historical evolution
have subscribed to the growth of a dreamlike panorama of dance
and visual art forms in this region.Some of them are religious,
highly ritualistic, but incorporate dance and music and colours
and light. Even the geographical isolation of Kerala had not
denied her the chance of inheritance of a common cultural
heritage of India. As such the major developments in the cultural
history of India had significant impact on the formation of
organization of Kerala society. Although it is a compact cultural
linguistic area, it was exposed to external influence both
from land and the sea. The Aryan culture and the Sanskrit
language nourished the indigenous tribal culture and language,
defined and categorized by the scholars as Dravidian.
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| Margamkali
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| Margamkali
is an entertainment form found among Suriyani Christian (Syrian
Christian) folk in Kerala state, South India. Margamkali is
a slant imitation of Sangamkali. The Christian soldiers used
to pass time engaged in Margamkali and the subject usually is
the arrival of Mar Thoma and his efforts to convert other people
to Christianity in Kerala.
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