Handmade in India

KATHAKALI AND THEYYAM HEADGEAR
Production Clusters
Kannur district:
Payyanur
Products
Kathakali and
Theyyam headgear
Tools
Uli - chisels
Vallamitti - flat
chisels
Arani - files
Alavattu - marking
tool
Compass
Bow drill
THEYYAM : The folk dance of Malabar, Theyyam literally
means `the dance of gods`. Rooted in the indigenous animistic
religious beliefs, this performing art tradition relies on narratives
that are elaborated through a combination of singing, chanting
and dancing. Each character in the narrative is a representation of
a deity; the costume and appearance of the character follow
ritualistic prescriptions that have been followed for years. A
three dimensional sculpture in motion, the entire costume shows
the influence of the region`s sculptural art forms. Lightweight
materials such as the wood from the areca nut palm and bamboo
are used in the construction of the frame of the most significant
accessory, the mudi, headgear, as well as for the lower garments.
Coconut tree wood and areca nut palm wood are used to make
ornaments. Areca nut wood is also used for making marmula,
breastplates, for female performers and the masks generally worn
by those characters considered fierce.
KATHAKALI : Kathakali, the colourful dance drama of
Kerala traditionally represented local narratives of the
exploits of various deities and demons. The dance forms is
characterized by its use of stylized, exaggerated facial
expressions and body movements as well as the elaborate
costumes, ornaments and the carved wooden headgear known
as the kiritam. The entire ensemble is constructed at a
massive scale so as to suggest the supernatural nature of the
character. While the inner front portion of the kiritam is made
of cane in order to ensure a good fitting, the body of the
kiritam is carved from the durable kumizhu wood. As this
wood is hard and does not chip easily, it grants the headgear
longevity and the degree of detailing allows makes it ideal for
accessories. Both the kiritam and the assortment of wooden
ornaments worn by the performers are intricately carved and
embellished with pieces of glass, stones, gold and silver foils,
velvets, beads, paper and peacock featuer.
1. The Theyyam mudi, headgear, is heavily ornamented, but lighter in weight, as it is made from the wood
of areca nut palm and bamboo.
2. An elaborately painted kiritam.
3. Conical mudi with circular disk behind.
4. An unpainted and a finished mudi
5. Theyyam of a local hero.
6. Theyyam of a local hero Kathivannoor Veeran.
7. Theyyam of Bhagavathi, the mother goddess.