PULIKALI TIGER
(Kerala Traditional Contemporary MSON Art)
PULIKALI TIGER
(Kerala Traditional Contemporary MSON Art)
Pulikali, or the 'Play of the Tigers', is a vibrant and boisterous folk art from Kerala, typically performed during Onam. It involves artists painting their bodies to look like tigers and leopards, and dancing to the beat of traditional percussion like the Thakil and Udukku. It embodies the theme of a grand 'tiger hunt', representing the triumph of wild, natural energy and the joy of harvest and new beginnings. The performance is a visually arresting, high-energy street spectacle featuring elaborate body art,
fierce masks, and playful, coordinated,
dance-driven movements.