Krishnanattom Dance- Kerala

Krishnanaattam was the dance-drama created by the Zamorin of Calicut in the year 1654. The dance form is evolved from Krishnagiti a series of slokas that tells the life story of Krishna and thus the dance form is named as Krishnanattom. The pattern of art was based on the Geetha Govinda which describes the turmoil in the love life of Krishna and Radha through words spoken by Krishna, Radha and a sakhi. The stories of Krishnanaattam are extracted from the Bhaagavata, and are designed to be performed on eight consecutive nights.

During the time of the Zamorins Krishnanaattam was performed only in Malabar. There were three palaces belonging to the Zamorin - Maankaavu and Thiruvannuuru in Calicut and the palace at Kottakkal. It was compulsory that there was at least one performance per year in whatever palace the sthaanis were residing. In all the palaces there were courtyards within the palace compounds. Krishnanaattam as well as other performances took place on the floors of these courtyards; this area was referred to as the nadappura. The lighting was the traditional Kali Vilakku (an oil lamp).

It was a tradition that during the day of the performance all actors ate only vegetarian food. If by mistake they did eat non-vegetarian food they could not play the role of Krishna. Those who played the role of Krishna could eat only one meal that day, the actor who played Lord Vishnu could eat only snack food, not a meal. Before coming to the dressing room each performer ritually purified his body by bathing.

According to a tradition all vocal trainees gave their teachers gurudakshina before the beginning of the performance on Vijayadashami day. Each teacher, in turn handed his student a gang and on stage the teacher and student together sang the beginning poems and songs of the night's performance. Last performance of the season was always that at the Zamorin's palace. It was called the Petti Vechu Kali.