Kerala, the land of green magic, is a narrow, fertile strip on the south-west coast of India. Sandwiched between the Lakshadweep, Arabian sea and the Western Ghats. The landscape is dominated by rice fields, mango and cashew nut trees and, above all, coconut palms. The Western Ghats, with their dense tropical forests, misty peaks, extensive ridges and ravines, have sheltered Kerala from main land invaders and encouraged maritime contact with the outside world.

One of the distinguishing features of Kerala society is the matrilineal system. Historians have not been able to decide how this system evolved. Together with this developed the practices of fraternal and simple polyandry. With the advent of technology, the joint family system as well as the matrilineal system disappeared. Because of the peculiar geographical features that nature has bestowed upon it, Kerala is isolated from the rest of the country. This isolation is reflected in the myriad art forms that have evolved here over the centuries. Elsewhere in India, the inspiration for art was manifested in the architectural marvels of the rock cut temples or in the magnificent murals of Ajanta caves. But in Kerala man found his own body as a supreme medium for artistic expression. Chakyar Koothu is presented as a mono act, as in the early style of Sanskrit plays. In Koodiyattam more than one actor, takes part in the performance. Krishnanattam, Ramanattam and Kathkali are other forms of art, which took birth in places of worship. Temples have also been the centres of artistic expressions. There was a rich variety of graphic and performing arts. The temples of Kerala abound in wood Sculptures. Pre-historic paintings on the caves at Edakkal near Sultan Battery resemble those of 17th dynasty of Egypt.

Intermingling with the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British has resulted in the creation of a ‘Eurasian’ community. Most of them are Latin Christians and their culture is distinctly different from the traditional Kerala culture. There were infiltrations from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. A large number of Gujaratis, Marwaris, Konkanis, the Gowda Saraswat Brahmins, Parsis, Kudumbis etc. also migrated to Kerala. No wonder, Swamy Vivekananda called Kerala a ‘lunatic asylum of castes’. Historians point out that even during the Sangam period, there were no strict divisions based on castes. Caste consciousness and untouchability came much later and it is also difficult to pin point the antiquity of any of the original races now in Kerala. The transformation into a cosmopolitan and egalitarian society was comparatively quick. The inherent tolerance and resilience of all original classes ensured a peaceful reformation. The gradual fusion of various groups has brought about a superficial uniformity.

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