ചടുല വേഗത്തില്‍ പയ്യന്നൂര്‍ കോല്‍കളി (Payyannur Kolkali )

തകര്‍പ്പന്‍ പയ്യന്നൂര്‍ കോല്‍ക്കളി -- പയ്യന്നൂര്‍ കലാഗ്രാമം

Payyanur Kolkali is an Unique Folk culture art form.

It requires a lot of acrobatic skills as kolkli is a prelude to kalarippayattu.

The players assemble in a circle.

The disciples of kalirippayattu requires the sharpness and alertness of body which is inculcated to the young disciples through a series of kolkli performance.

In kolkali, the players are provided with two small sticks (made up of Kara) fitted with steel bangles.

When they are struck together they make a musical note. The players assemble in a circle.


There should be a minimum of 16 players. The players are grouped into two types - the aka, meaning those inside and the pura, meaning those inside.

The kurikkal and the singers will occupy positions outside this circle.

They dance according to a sett rhythm sung by the singers and echoed by the players in unison.

There are plays which have to be played in a sitting position then in a standing position and finally in a moving position.

The play ends with a vaithari thalam. In olden times there used to be kolkali on all festivals like nira, puthari etc at Payyanur temple. There, beneath the erinhi tree the first play is enacted as an offering to lord Subramhanya.


The kolkai songs are melodious and are usually invocation to gods.