During the ancient period, the people of present-day Kerala were ruled by the
Chera dynasty of
Tamilakam, with their capital at Vanchi. The Malayalis live in a historic area known as the
Malabar coast, which for thousands of years has been a major center of the international spice trade, operating at least from the
Roman era with
Ptolemy documenting it on
his map of the world in 150 AD. For that reason, a highly distinct culture was created among the Malayali due to centuries of contact with foreign cultures through the
spice trade. The arrival of the
Cochin Jews, the rise of
Saint Thomas Christians, and the growth of
Mappila Muslim community, in particular, were very significant in shaping modern-day Malayali culture. Later, Portuguese
Latin Christians,
Dutch Malabar, French
Mahe, and British
English, which arrived after 1498 left their mark through colonialism and pillaging their resources. In 2017, a detailed study of the evolution of the Singapore Malayalee community over a period of more than 100 years was published as a book:
From Kerala to Singapore: Voices of the Singapore Malayalee Community. It is believed to be the first in-depth study of the presence of a NRI Malayalee community outside of Kerala.
Language and literature Although disputed, the widely held view consider the Malayalam language to be descended from a dialect of early middle
Tamil language spoken on the Malabar coast, and largely arose because of its geographical isolation from the rest of the Tamil speaking areas. The
Sangam literature can be considered as the ancient predecessor of
Malayalam. The use of the pronoun and the lack of the literary Tamil ending are
archaisms from Proto-Dravidian rather than unique innovations of Malayalam. The origin of
Malayalam calendar dates back to year 825 CE. It is generally agreed that the
Quilon Syrian copper plates of 849/850 CE is the available oldest inscription written in
Old Malayalam. For the first 600 years of
Malayalam calendar, the literature mainly consisted of the oral
ballads such as
Vadakkan Pattukal (Northern Songs) in
North Malabar and
Thekkan Pattukal (Southern songs) in
Southern Travancore. The earliest known literary works in Malayalam are
Ramacharitam and
Thirunizhalmala, two
epic poems written in Old Malayalam. Malayalam literature has been presented with 6
Jnanapith awards, the second-most for any Dravidian language and the third-highest for any Indian language. Designated a "
Classical Language in India" in 2013, in the 15th and the 16th centuries CE.
Kunchan Nambiar, a
Palakkad-based poet also influenced a lot in the growth of modern Malayalam literature in its pre-mature form, through a new literary branch called
Thullal. The
triumvirate of poets (
Kavithrayam: Kumaran Asan,
Vallathol Narayana Menon and
Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer) are recognized for moving Keralite poetry away from archaic
sophistry and
metaphysics and towards a more
lyrical mode. In 19th century Chavara Kuriakose Elias, the founder of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate and Congregation of Mother of Carmel congregations, contribute different streams in the Malayalam Literature. All his works are written between 1829 and 1870. Chavara's contribution to Malayalam literature includes chronicles, poems – athmanuthapam (compunction of the soul), Maranaveettil Paduvanulla Pana (Poem to sing in the bereaved house) and Anasthasiayude Rakthasakshyam – and other literary works. Contemporary Malayalam literature deals with social, political, and economic life context. The tendency of the modern poetry is often towards
political radicalism. The writers like
Kavalam Narayana Panicker have contributed much to Malayalam drama. Later, writers like
O. V. Vijayan,
Kamaladas,
M. Mukundan,
Arundhati Roy, and
Vaikom Muhammed Basheer, have gained international recognition.
Arabi Malayalam (also called Mappila Malayalam and Moplah Malayalam) was the traditional Dravidian language of the Mappila Muslim community in Malabar Coast. The poets like
Moyinkutty Vaidyar and
Pulikkottil Hyder have made notable contributions to the
Mappila songs, which is a genre of the Arabi Malayalam literature. The
Arabi Malayalam script, otherwise known as the
Ponnani script, is a writing system – a variant form of the
Arabic script with special
orthographic features – which was developed during the early medieval period and used to write Arabi Malayalam until the early 20th century CE. Though the script originated and developed in
Kerala, today it is predominantly used in Malaysia and
Singapore by the migrant
Muslim community. The modern Malayalam grammar is based on the book
Kerala Panineeyam written by
A. R. Raja Raja Varma in late 19th century CE. World Malayali Council with its sister organisation, International Institute for Scientific and Academic Collaboration (IISAC) has come out with a comprehensive book on Kerala titled
Introduction to Kerala Studies, specially intended for the Malayali diaspora across the globe. J.V. Vilanilam, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kerala; Sunny Luke, medical scientist and former professor of Medical Biotechnology at Adelphi University, New York; and Antony Palackal, professor of sociology at the Loyola College of Social Sciences in Thiruvananthapuram, have edited the book, besides making other contributions to it.
Tharavadu Tharavad, also spelled as Tharavadu is the
ancestral home of aristocratic families in Kerala, which usually served as the common house for the
matrilineal joint family system practiced in the state. Each Tharavadu has a unique name. The Tharavadu was administered by the
Karanavar, the oldest male member of the family. He would be the eldest maternal uncle of the family as well. The members of the Tharavadu consisted of mother, daughters, sons, sisters and brothers. The fathers and husbands had a very minimal role to play in the affairs of the Tharavadu. It was a true matrilineal affair. The Karanavar took all major decisions. He was usually autocratic. However, the consent of the eldest female member of the family was taken before implementing the decisions. This eldest female member would be his maternal grandmother, own mother, mother's sister, his own sister or a sister through his maternal lineage. Since the lineage was through the female members, the birth of a daughter was always welcomed. Each Tharavadu also has a
Para Devatha (clan deity) revered by those in the particular Tharavadu. Temples were built to honour these deities. Certain Hindu communities such as the
Nairs,
Muslims around Kannur, Some parts of Kozhikode district and Ponnani in
Malappuram, and
Varkala and
Edava in
Thiruvananthapuram used to follow a traditional matrilineal system known as
marumakkathayam which has in the recent years (post-Indian independence) ceased to exist.
Architecture structure. Kerala, the ancestral land of the Malayali people, has a tropical climate with excessive rains and intensive solar radiation. The architecture of this region has evolved to meet these climatic conditions by having the form of buildings with low walls, sloping roof and projecting caves.
Performing arts and music Nasrani wedding. Malayalis use two words to denote dance, which is
attom and
thullal. The art forms of Malayalis are classified into three types:
religious, such as
Theyyam and Bhagavatipattu;
semi religious, like Sanghakali and
Krishnanattom; and
secular, such as
Kathakali,
Mohiniyattam, and Thullal. Kathakali is actually a
dance-drama. Mohiniyattam is a very sensual and graceful dance form that is performed both solo and in a group by women.
Ottamthullal is another performing art, which is also known as the ''poor man's Kathakali
, which was created by the poet Kunchan Nambiar as an alternative to Chakiarkooth'' (another performing art), which was open only for higher castes to see. Theyyam is a ritualistic art form of Malayalis, which is thought to predate
Hinduism and to have developed from folk dances performed in conjunction with harvest celebrations. Theyyam is performed as an offering to gods so as to get rid of poverty and illness. Velakali is another ritualistic art form, mainly performed at temples in the festival time.
Kolkali is a folk art in which dance performers move in a circle, striking small sticks and keeping rhythm with special steps. Many ancient Malayali family houses in Kerala have special snake shrines called
Kavu. Sarpam Thullal is usually performed in the courtyard of houses having snake shrines. This is a votive offering for family wealth and happiness. Kerala Natanam (കേരള നടനം) (Kerala dance) is a new style of dance that is now recognized as a distinct classical art form evolved from Kathakali. The Indian dancer
Guru Gopinath (ഗുരു ഗോപിനാഥ്) a well-trained Kathakali artist and his wife Thankamani Gopinath developed this unique form of dance. Performing arts in Kerala is not limited to a single religion of the Malayali society.
Muslim Mappilas, Nasranis Mappilas and
Latin Christians have their own unique performing art forms.
Duff Muttu, also known as
Dubh Muttu/Aravanamuttu is a performing art form prevalent among the Muslim community. It is a group performance, staged as a social event during festivals and nuptial ceremonies. Since the 1980s women also have found groups. The dancers themselves sing the
margamkali songs in unison call and response form. The significance of music in the
culture of Kerala can be established just by the fact that in Malayalam language, musical poetry was developed long before
prose. Kerala is musically known for
Sopanam. Sopanam is religious in nature, and developed through singing invocatory songs at the
Kalam of
Kali, and later inside temples. Sopanam came to prominence in the wake of the increasing popularity of
Jayadeva's
Gita Govinda or
Ashtapadis. Sopana
sangeetham (music), as the very name suggests, is sung by the side of the
holy steps (sopanam) leading to the
sanctum sanctorum of a
shrine. It is sung, typically employing plain notes, to the accompaniment of the small, hourglass-shaped ethnic drum called
idakka, besides the chengila or the handy metallic gong to sound the beats. Sopanam is traditionally sung by men of the
Maarar and
Pothuval community, who are
Ambalavasi (semi-Brahmin) castes engaged to do it as their hereditary profession. Kerala is also home of
Carnatic music.
Swati Tirunal, Shadkala Govinda Maarar, Sangitha Vidwan Gopala Pillai Bhagavathar, Chertala Gopalan Nair,
M. D. Ramanathan,
T.V.Gopalakrishnan,
M.S. Gopalakrishnan, L. Subramaniam
T.N. Krishnan and
K. J. Yesudas are Malayali musicians. Also among the younger generations with wide acclaim is violinist
L. Athira Krishna etc.. Kerala also has a significant presence of
Hindustani music as well. The king of Travancore, Swathi Thirunal patronaged and contributed much to the Hindustani music. The
pulluvar of Kerala are closely connected to the serpent worship. One group among these people consider the snake gods as their presiding deity and performs certain sacrifices and sing songs. This is called
Pulluvan Pattu. The song conducted by the pulluvar in serpent temples and snake groves is called Sarppapaattu, Naagam Paattu, Sarpam Thullal, Sarppolsavam, Paambum Thullal or Paambum Kalam.
Mappila Paattukal or
Mappila Songs are folklore Muslim devotional songs in the Malayalam language. Mappila songs are composed in colloquial Malayalam and are sung in a distinctive tune. They are composed in a mixture of Malayalam and
Arabic.
Film music, which refers to
playback singing in the context of
Indian music, forms the most important canon of popular music in India. Film music of Kerala in particular is the most popular form of music in the state. is a culinary specialty in Kerala. It is a steamed rice cake which is a favorite breakfast of most Malayalis. It is served with either brown chickpeas cooked in a spicy gravy, and boiled small green lentils, or tiny ripe yellow Kerala plantains. In the highlands there is also a variety of served with (the boiled-down syrup from
sweet palm toddy) and sweet boiled bananas. to steam the , there is a special utensil called a . It consists of two sections. The lower bulkier portion is where the water for steaming is stored. The upper detachable leaner portion is separated from the lower portion by perforated lids so as to allow the steam to pass through and bake the rice powder. is a pancake made of fermented batter. The batter is made of rice flour and fermented using either yeast or toddy, the local spirit. It is fried using a special frying pan called and is served with egg curry, chicken curry, mutton stew, vegetable curry and chickpea curry.
Muslim cuisine or Mappila cuisine is a blend of traditional Kerala,
Persian,
Yemenese and
Arab food culture. This confluence of culinary cultures is best seen in the preparation of most dishes. The snacks include
Unnakkaya (deep-fried, boiled ripe
banana paste covering a mixture of cashew,
raisins and
sugar), pazham nirachathu (ripe banana filled with coconut grating,
molasses or sugar), Anthropologists estimate that Kalarippayattu dates back to at least the 12th century CE. The historian Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai attributes the birth of Kalaripayattu to an extended period of warfare between the Cheras and the
Cholas in the 11th century CE. The oldest western reference to Kalaripayattu is a 16th-century travelogue of
Duarte Barbosa, a Portuguese explorer. The southern style, which stresses the importance of hand-to-hand combat, is slightly different than Kalari in the north.
Recent developments (2024–2025) In 2024–2025, Malayali migration trends showed increasing movement towards Europe, Australia, and Canada for higher education and skilled employment, while migration to Gulf countries continued at a comparatively slower pace than in previous decades. Malayali diaspora organisations across the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and North America expanded cultural and welfare activities during this period. Several regions reported record participation in community events, including large-scale Onam celebrations and youth development programmes. Consumption of Malayalam digital media continued to grow globally, with regional OTT platforms and online content creators reporting increased engagement from non-resident Malayalis. Malayalam films and literary works also received national and international recognition in 2024–2025, contributing to the community's cultural visibility. == See also ==