Pulikali

Pulikali is a traditional performing art. Pulikali literally means “play of the tigers” in Malayalam. It is part of the Onam festivities (Thiruvonam) and is generally performed on the fourth day of the Onam festival. Pulikali is rather popular in Palakkad and Thrissur districts and not that favored in others. It is also known as Kaduvakali. Pulikali is a highly colorful and entertaining folk art and is enjoyed by old and young alike due to the fervor it elicits.

On this day, Pulikali troupes from various parts of the district assemble in Thrissur city (Swaraj Grounds) and perform. A sort of a contest develops with the cheering crowds deciding which troupe they like best.

In Pulakali a group of performers(usually around 6 people who make up the troupe), have their bodies painted in the colors and patterns of a tiger, don tiger masks and perform a wild dance symbolizing the hunting rituals on a tiger hunt. The hunter and drummer play their parts realistically as the tiger guised men prance and leap ferociously. The play includes realistic scenes such as the tiger catching the goat, offered as bait and then the hunter capturing the tiger and so on.

The art is a simple and entertaining one. The cheering, roaring crowds fill the performers with vigor. However the pains taken by the artists need to be highlighted. The performers themselves get their bodies shaved the evening prior to the performance. After a family meal, the painting starts at night. Usually with a tigers picture in front, the painters work meticulously and painstakingly to create an exact likeness of a tiger. The tiger's face is often painter on the chest of the performer. Often the shiny coat and dark spots of a leopard are also painted on a performer. Rarely a performer is also painted to be a black panther. The painters work patiently all night and the performers too take immense efforts to get the guise perfected. Often they stand all night in a windy area or under a fan to dry the paint. The colors used are yellow, black and red. These were traditionally herbal or organic dyes but the use of commercial, synthesized paint is now in vogue as it dries faster and looks more impressive and shiny. But these are also harmful to the artists skin and often burn the newly shaved skin.

The instruments that are played to recreate the tiger hunting scenes are drums and percussions such as 'Udukku' and 'Thakil', 'Chenda" and 'Thappu'. The beats of these instruments create the atmosphere required for the spectator to vicariously eel the hunter's thrill.

This 200 year old art form is fast on the wane. Earlier where 30-40 troupes had participated in a competitive spirit, hardly 6-7 troupes perform now; and the focus is to keep the art alive, rather than winning the prize. The urban population no longer takes delight in the art as in olden times. Local clubs are making an effort to keep the art alive and do organize performances. The local people pool in their resources. They also volunteer as painters. So street-shows of Pulikali are conducted in the district of Thrissur. The Government, Tourism department and other organizations are indeed making an effort to keep the art going.