Panarkali

Panarkali, a mirthful dance, is performed mainly by panar of Malabar area. In Panarkali, a male character Thekken and a female character Thekkethy stage a mock quarrel as in Kurathiyattom. The dance is accompanied by a song which shows the suspecting husband’s inquisitive queries and the clever replies of an intelligent wife. A jester who criticizes and makes fun of the customs and manner of the members of the upper strata of society also participates in the dance at later stage. In some places instead of panars the Kakkalans perform this dance and hence is known as Kakkarissi Natakam.