Harmonize With the Music of History!
Since I was keen to know about the cultural heritage - various dance forms of Kerala, I visited Mr Narayan, father of my NRI friend. Mr Narayan, Mathew's father, told me about the various dance form that included Chavittunatakom, Oppana, Krishnanattom, Kolkkali, Kootiyattom.

He also took me to a dance school “Nritya Mahavishwa-vidyalaya” where students were practicing for their annual program. The guruji over there provided me information about
Mohiniyattom, the semi classical dance form of Kerala, mainly practiced by females. The dance form involved slow, graceful movement of the body and limbs and highly emotive eyes and hand gestures that were unique.

The students there acquainted me with another famous dance form of Kerala - Kathakali. This dance form was very interesting and involved dramatical expression along with dance. The actor is this form depicts characters from the epics of Ramayana, Mahabharta and from the Puranas (ancient scriptures). I was mesmerized by the dress which they wore during their annual fest. The dancers adorn themselves in huge skirts and hair dress wearing a most intricate style of make up.

The Knock in Kerala times!
After observing the various nuances of the various dance form, it was time to explore the different martial art form practised in Kerala from years.

For this Mr Naraynan took me to a Martial art teacher, Mr. Rangnathan. He taught martial art for about 20 years and knew all the different forms.

When I visited the ashram, Mr Rangnathan was training on another form of Martial art - Maipayattu.Well I was surprised to see that it involved in incredible twist and turn of the body, leaps and jumps.

Mr Ranganathan told me that the famous martial art in Kerala is Kalarippayattu. Kalarippayattu practiced in a kalari or arena that is dug into the earth and lit by oil lamps.

Each Kalari is under the leadership of a teacher known as Asan or Gurukkal.

Mr Ranganathan also told me about other martial art form Puliyankam (Swords fight)

Sticks of Kolthari and Otta.