Category Archives: Documentary

Jallikattu (bull taming sport)

Jallikattu (bull taming sport) from Palamedu in Madurai district

Jallikattu (bull taming sport) | Palamedu, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India | 2012

Jallikattu, one of the oldest existing ancient sports is a bull taming sport played in the villages of Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal (harvest festival) celebrations.

A new beginning

A bride with bouquet

Kerala, India | 2011

Happy New year :)

Unaffected traditions

Black and white portrait of a tribal woman with a large ear plug from Wayanad in Kerala

Tribal Woman | Wayanad, Kerala, India | 2010

Kalaripayattu demonstration with Kuntham (spear)

Kalaripayattu demonstration by Raam Kumar with Kuntham (spear)

Raam Kumar | CVN Kalari, East Fort, Trivandrum, Kerala, India | 2011

Kuntham or spear, a weapon with a wooden shaft and an iron blade in the shape of a leaf or bud, is used by kalari fighters in fighting the enemy through tactics of blows and hits.

Read More » Kalaripayattu
View More » Kalaripayattu

Master of the house

Chandramodi Chettiar sitting at the courtyard of his Chettinadu Manision

Chandramodi Chettiar | Chettinadu Mansion, Kanadukathan, Tamil Nadu, India | 2011

Chettinad, a place in Tamil Nadu state in India is famous for its mansions, temples and its exquisite cuisines.  Chettinad is the home land of Chettiars, a community of wealthy business and banking people.

Kalaripayattu demonstration with Otta

Kalaripayattu demonstration by Raam Kumar with Otta

Raam Kumar | CVN Kalari, East Fort, Trivandrum, Kerala, India | 2011

Kalaripayattu, one of the oldest fighting systems is a martial art from Kerala, India. It comprises a series of strikes, kicks, grappling, preset forms, weaponry and healing methods. Kalaripayattu is derived from the word Kalari meaning school or gymnasium and payattu meaning fight or exercise.

An Otta is a wooden stick of about 18 to 20 inches in length and resemble the shape of a spine. The rounded tip is used to strike the vital points of the opponent’s body.

Raktha Chamundi Theyyam

raktha chamundi theyyam

Raktha Chamundi Theyyam | Trivandrum, Kerala, India | 2010

Read More » Theyyam

Fading years of hardship

fading years of hardship

Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India | 2011

Behind the scenes of Kathakali

behind the scenes of kathakali

Behind the scenes of Kathakali | Trivandrum, Kerala, India | 2010

Read More » Kathakali | Kathakali Make-up
View More » Kathakali

Pottery

pottery making from tamil nadu

Pottery | Tamil Nadu, India | 2010

Tribal Woman

portrait of a paniya woman with a large ear plug

Paniya Woman | Wayanad, Kerala, India | 2010

Read More » Paniya Tribe
View More » Paniya Tribe

Paniya Woman

a paniya woman with ear plug made of manjadikkuru (circassian seed).

Paniya Woman | Wayanad, Kerala, India | 2010

A Paniya woman with ear plug made of manjadikkuru (Circassian seed).

A majority of the adivasis (tribal communities) that reside in Wayanad District of Kerala belong to the Paniya tribe. The word ‘Paniyan’ means ‘worker’. The women of Paniya tribe are characterized by their large ear plugs and broad noses.

Fisherman

a fisherman with rope on his shoulders at shankhumugham beach

Fisherman | Shankhumugham, Trivandrum, Kerala, India | 2010

Chuvanna Thadi (Red Beard)

chuvanna thadi (red beard) make-up of dussasana in kathakali

Dussasana | Trivandrum, Kerala, India | 2010

Chuvanna Thadi (Red Beard) make-up is given to aggressive and demoniac characters like Baali, Kaalakeya, Sugriiva, and Dussaasana.The entire face is painted red and a thick patch of black is provided around the eyes. Lips are also painted black.

Read More » Kathakali | Kathakali Make-up
View More » Kathakali

Agni Kandakarnan Theyyam

agni kandakarnan theyyam

Agni Kandakarnan Theyyam | Trivandrum, Kerala, India | 2010

Theyyam or Thirayattam is a ritual dance form of Northern Kerala, India. The word Theyyam has been derived from Daivam, meaning God.

Agni Kandakarnan is a theyyam having heavy torches around the waist of the kolam.

Reflection

reflection of kathakali artist kalamandalam ratheesan doing make-up

Kalamandalam Ratheesan | Trivandrum, Kerala, India | 2010

Read More » Kathakali | Kathakali Make-up
View More » Kathakali | Kalamandalam Ratheesan

An Odyssey

a pilgrim carrying holy water from ganga during kumbh mela 2010 in haridwar

Kumbh Mela | Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India | 2010

A pilgrim carrying holy water from ganga.

Read More » Kumbh Mela
View More » Kumbh Mela

Completed 2 years of photoblogging with 106 images and received a total of 266,891 views and 5418 comments!!! Thank you every one for the support  :)

Nangiarkoothu backstage

margi usha getting ready for the nangiarkoothu

Margi Usha | Trivandrum, Kerala, India | 2010

Nangiarkoothu is a traditional art form of Kerala with its history dated back to 1500 years featuring a solo actress (nangiar) who narrates the story by Mudras (hand gestures), facial expressions and body movements to the accompaniment of the mizhavu (big copper drum).

Kathakali make-up

a kathakali artist doing make-up

Kathakali make-up | Trivandrum, Kerala, India | 2010

Kathakali has a very elaborate make-up. The make-up can be mostly classified into five types namely Pacha (Green), Kathi (Knife), Kari (Black), Thadi (Beard) and Minukku (Prettying Up). Pacha portrays noble protagonists, Kathi portrays villainous characters, Kari is used for lady-demons, Vella Thadi (White Beard) is used for super human characters like Hanuman (the Monkey God), Chuvanna Thadi (Red Beard) for evil characters, Karutha Thadi (Black Beard) for the hunter and the Minukku vesham is used for female characters and sages.

Read More » Kathakali
View More » Kathakali

In agony

hands of an old man in agony from andheri station in mumbai

Andheri station, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India | 2010