Kalaripayattu gets a new lease of life

A few decades back, Kalaripayattu — the traditional martial art, was confined mostly to Kerala.
However, the scenario is fast changing with it gaining popularity not just in India but internationally as well. The recently concluded national-level Kalari championship at Trivandrum is proof enough, with 350 students from all over India participating in the event.Another upcoming event, which will be held under the auspices of the Indian Olympics Association (IOA) in September, is expected to see at least 800 participants with an average of 26 contestants from Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and West Bengal.
Kalaripayattu’s rapid growth in popularity within India in the last few years can be attributed to several factors. It being featured in movies and the move to make it a certified sport are some of them.
From art to sport
“Since Kalaripayattu is considered an art form rather than a sport, a degree in it is not valued. But we are hoping that with the IOA lending support to upgrade it into a sport, this would change,” says P Sudhish, who has been participating in the state and district-level Kalari competitions. The 22-year-old hopes that the move will help students in the long run, thanks to the efforts of the Kalaripayattu Association of India (KFI) and IOA.
KFI general secretary V A Shiyad says, “Currently, about 20 states in India have students practising Kalari, and camps are held frequently in places such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and West Bengal to train interested students from the age of seven and above.”
Influence of films
Some of the movies in the last decade such as Indian, Asoka, Urumi, The Myth, The Last Legion and 7aam Arivu have contributed greatly in attracting the youth to the martial arts. Tamil Nadu Kalaripayattu Association president P Selvaraj, who had trained actors Suriya and Karthik for 7aam Arivu and Aayirathil Oruvan respectively, tells us that the impact these movies had on the youngsters, especially in Tamil Nadu, was huge.
“After the release of 7aam Arivu, a lot of youngsters from various districts of Tamil Nadu wanted to learn Kalaripayattu. There are now classes being held for film actors in Chennai to practise and perfect Kalari moves,” says Selvaraj.
Mother of all martial arts
While it is common knowledge that martial arts such as Karate, Kung Fu and Taekwando have their roots in Kerala’s ancient fighting system, Kishor Vhankhande, president of the Kalaripayattu Association of Maharashtra says, Kalaripayattu has an edge over all the other martial arts. “Kalari is considered a complete martial art by most in the world and that’s the reason why it’s called the mother of all martial arts,” says Kishor, who has specialised in Karate and Kung Fu apart from Kalari. He also points out that more than the hand-to-hand combat and use of weapons, it is the healing system such as the marma treatment which makes Kalari unique.
Spreading wings
Kalaripayattu’s charm has spread to other countries as well. Selvaraj, who is just back from forming associations for the martial arts in Malaysia and Indonesia, tells us, “The response outside India has been overwhelming. Malayalis and Tamilians, who have gone abroad and settled there, have introduced Kalari to the students there and are developing them.”