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Explore our archive of rare stories from different corridors of cultural discourse across craft, oral and performance traditions, visual culture and more.
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Pathonam | Many Stories of Onam | An ARPO Original Documentary
What if the Onam we know is only one version of the story? Pathonam looks beyond the familiar and popular image of Onam that we know of pookalams, kasavu, sadhya and the story of Mahabali to explore the many ways Onam has been celebrated across Kerala. From Onapottan and Thuyilunarthupattu to Onathallu, Onavillu, Pulikali and Vallam Kali, this documentary traces the traditions, memories and histories that have shaped Onam and asks how one festival came to be understood throug
How Bharathapuzha Shaped Kerala Culture | Vinod M Nambiar | Vaayo Talks
A journey through the cultural history of Nila river
Tribal Culture in Wayanad | Ep 9: SAGA with Manu S Pillai ft. Manikuttan Paniyan & Bindu Irulam
In Episode 9 of SAGA, we engage with two powerful voices from marginalised tribal groups in Kerala: Manikuttan Paniyan and Bindu Irulam. In the first half of the episode, Manikuttan takes us through the story of the Paniya community, and its past and present. In the second half, Bindu introduces us to the lore, song, poetry, and language of the Kattunayakar tribe. Both ultimately hope their tribal identity will be preserved and protected as younger generations engage with the
Theeyattu | Ep 5: SAGA with Manu S Pillai Ft. Sasidhara Sarma & Sreejith Sarma
Among Kerala's several ritual dance forms, some are well known, and others less so. It is this second space that the Theeyattu, or dance of fire, today occupies. Performed by a small community, with only a handful of Theeyattu-Unnis still practising the tradition, in many ways this is a fading dance form and sacred rite. In Episode 5 of Saga, Manu S Pillai meets two committed hereditary practitioners, Sasidhara Sarma and his son Sreejith Sarma, to discuss the Theeyattu, its e
Payayil Iruthal: A Ritual of Grief, Memory, and Healing in the MannanCommunity
Among the many rich and diverse traditions of Mannan community of Kerala, Payayil Iruthal (also Payel Iruthal) stands out as a deeply humane and spiritually resonant mourning ritual. This unique practice honours the memory of a deceased spouse and provides the surviving partner a sacred space for remembrance, grief, and eventual healing. A Ritual Spanning 7 long days Payayil Iruthal is traditionally observed for three consecutive years following the death of an individual. Ea
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