Aadivedan is an ancient folk art prevalent in certain areas of Kannur district. Aadi and Vedam represent parvathy and siva. All the characters who enact these two roles normally belong to two different communities. It is performed during day time.

This is a ritualistic art prevalent in Malappuram District. A horse is fashioned with bamboo splints and tender fronds of the coconut palm. This horse is lifted and carried on the shoulders of the performers who dance to the rhythm of Chenda and to the accompaniment of songs sung by them.

This art forms is performed in Kannur District. The leader along with the troupe go to each house, play on the Chenda and begins to sing. Two charactors with face masks made out of the stalk of coconut fronds and with yellow tassels of Kuruthola sing the refrain. Along with this they go through an enactment of comical gestures. There comedy charactors are known as Paniyans. Another charactor the representation of bull, worn round his waist, dances in peculiar style. Kotha means child and Moori means bull. This is an entertainment which the Malayans performs when the harvest is ever.

KOZHIPPORUKALI
Kozhipporukali is meant as a community entertainment. The main features of the performance is the signing of a rhythmic song, about cock fight, with performs holding staves two to three feet long, with which they drives stylized blows in the air and show off their valour. Background accompaniments are provided by bells and dolak. There are many intricate martial movements which the performers go through. At the end of each complex move the performers shout in imitation of cook's crow. After commencing in a slow tempo this is worked up to a high pitch before the performance concludes. This art form is prevalent in Chirayinkizhu, Kilimanoor and Pazhaya kunnummal at Thiruvananthapuram District.

GARUDAN THOOKAM
This dance from is presented in some temple where the installed deity is Badrakali. Two or three dancers in the garb of Garuda, dance to the ehythm of percussion instruments. The dance is known as the Thookakaran. In limitation of Garuda (the bird king) the dancers preen the feathers with their beaks, carry snakes in the beak, dance with wings spread in circle, in an ecstasy of joy. And this, against the background of the rhythm of the instruments, the shouts of the on lookers, and the bursting of crackers, all of which combine to produce the effect of a battle. At the end, the Thookakaran climbs into a cart, circumambulates the temple and the donates blood. While goddess Kali was fighting demon Darika, Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu, flew round and round and viewed the scene. Even after slaying Darika, the flaming anger of the goddess was not assuaged. She turned against Garuda. Though he pleaded a thousand times for pardon, the terrible goddess clamed down only after drinking three drops of Garuda's blood. This art forms, a votive offering, revives this theme. Instruments like the Chenda, Maddalam, Cymbals, Horns etc. are used. This art for is prevalent in Kottayam and Alappuzha districts.

CHAVITUKALI (CHERUMAKKALI)
Popular in Malaappuram District. This is performed by the Pulaya Community. This entertainment is presented during temple festivals or during Onam, Vishnu and such other festive days. When the performers stand in a circle, the leader of the troupe recites two lines of a song. The others repeat the lines. After doing this twice, they dance in a circle, with hand gestures, to a peculiar kind of rhythm. When the song nears the end, the tempo of the dance rises. Mostly the rhythm remains unchanged. But the steps, could be circular and diagonal. No percussion instruments or lighting effects are used.

CHATTHANKALI
Prevalent in many areas of Ponnani and Thirur Taluks in Malappuram District. In the garb of Chathan, a village deity, they dance to the accompaniment of percussion instruments like the Chenda etc. In both hands the dancers of Kolams carry two short sticks. They click these sticks together rhythm. Each particular dance sequence takes about ten minutes. A particular type of Chenda is used as background rhythm. Usually this is performed during day time. A linon cloth jingling bell round the waist and heavy clanking anklet and on the head, a headdress made of arecanut frond's base and tender coconut frond's. A face mask of arecanut frond base, with an exaggerated nose. These form the costume.

CHOZHIKKALI
Prevalent in Thrissur District. Children don the garb of Chozhi. The elders don the costumes of kalan, Chitragupta, Muthiyamma. The leader stands in the midst of children, garbed as Chozhi. The leader makes the Chozhis sit in a circle round him and begins to sing. The Chozhis clap their palams. Later, the elder in the garb of Kalan (God of Death) and Chitragupta enter to the accompaniment of yells. The Muthiamma sings humorous songs. After commencing the performance, in a vacant lot, the performers go from house to house and perform this. The costume of Chozhi consists of dried plantain leaves, tied all over the body. And two horns would be sticking out from the forehead. Kalan and Chiragupta wear black clothes and masks of terrifying aspects with fangs bared.



THALAMKALI (THALIKAKKALI)
This is an art form where physical culture amount much. It is prevalent in Malappuram District, and is performed by the Thiyas. It is said that this used to be popular as a performance during the celebrations of Thaikettu (a ritual in which the young girls who attain puberty go through a mock marriage) The performers stand in circle and sing to a rhythm. After that they carry plates in both palms and go through intricate twisting and turning. And along with this are shown various types of gestures too. However intricate the twisting and turning, the plates will remain stuck to the palms with a pot full of water on the head and plates carried on the palm, various dances are also exhibited.

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