It is 7.30 a.m.. As most Bengalureans gets ready to head to work, school or college, I find myself at a Kalaripayattu Training Centre in Kalyan Nagar, stretched out on the floor as part of a stretching routine.
As I lie there, I wonder when I would be able to wield the vaal (sword) and palisha (shield) like an expert warrior, much like Mammootty in the Malayalam hit movie Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha.
The instructor, Ranjan Mullaratt seems to read my thoughts and laughs, “It is a tough art form to learn. It takes amateurs more than 10 years to learn the basics.”
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As I struggle my way to finishing the stretches, some of the regulars in the class such as architect Nirav Kumar and IT professional Pratik Bhatia are moving on to the next level, throwing punches and kicks in the air.
They are among a growing bunch taking to the ancient martial art form from Kerala, which is making waves in the silicon plateau and also making an attempt at breaking into the higher ecoleans of sport via an Olympic bid. Talking about his foray into Kalari,
Nirav says, “I used to consider myself a weakling. I stayed away from fistfights. It was an attempted mugging that changed my perception about martial arts.
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I realised that learning a martial art form is necessary for fitness and self defence. I have been practicing Kalari for more than five years now.”
When Kalari instructor Ranjan Mullaratt came to Bengaluru 16 years ago to spread awareness about this art and its benefits, he faced an uphill task. “Not many people had heard about this form and could not even pronounce it. I used to conduct classes on the outskirts of the city and did not draw too many students. That trend has changed in the last few years.”
He adds, “Kalari can be described as a performance art, a self defence technique and a workout routine, depending on what students want to gain from it. From running a tiny centre on the outskirts, we now conduct classes on Brigade Road and Kalyan Nagar. We also manage a gurukulam, which is frequented by people who want to pick up Kalari professionally. I keep getting requests from people as far as the IISC campus to conduct classes, but am presently unable to do so.” Ranjan says, “It takes time to learn and understand the nuances of Kalari. Students staying at the gurukulam can develop some of the skills within a couple of years. If you attend a couple of classes a week, it will take you more than five years.”
He adds, “I was born in a family of Kalari experts and learnt from Balan maash, a key figure in Kalari in Kerala. We started by using dances and stage performances to make it popular in Bengaluru. It has spread to more than 24 states in the country. We are delighted that Kalari is being seen as a potential sport to make an entry to the Olympics.”
I meet Sreedharan Indiran, another instructor, shouting out the instructions to a batch of students at T.C. Palya main road. He points out, “When I set up this training centre, we had a batch of six students. We now teach multiple batches with more than 30 people in each batch. I think people are keen on learning a traditional martial art form. As the awareness increases, they feel it is a better option than Kung Fu or Karate. Apart from classes, we also focus on the healing aspects of Kalari by offering a slew of treatment options for those struggling with spinal and back problems.”
He adds, “We term it Marma Chikilsa. Marmam (pressure points) is key to learning about Kalari. You need to study about it if you aspire to be a good practitioner. The growing popularity of Kalari is also because it has been brought into the mainstream of popular culture via movies such as Tiger Shroff’s Baaghi.” These sentiments are echoed by Vishnu Pratap, who conducts more than three batches, each consisting of more than 30 students at the Indian Heritage Academy, Koramanagala. “It is a brilliant mental and physical exercise. It exercises every part of the body. As more people veer towards traditional martial art forms for self defence and a workable fitness routine, Kalari is emerging on the top.”
IT professional Umesh Gowda took up Kalari to shed weight and pick up some self defence training. “I enjoyed the classes and have never been this fit in my life. I have lost weight as well. Kalaripayattu combines a martial art form with performances and has aided in shaking off my fear of the stage as well.”
Homemaker Varsha G. enrolled her 16-year-old child for Kalari classes a couple of years ago. “Kalari has helped her pick up the basics of dance better and I feel she is more equipped to defend herself in a hostile situation. I think training in forms such as Kalari must be made mandatory.”