Kerala Folklore Academy is an

autonomous In developmental psychology and moral, political, and bioethical philosophy, autonomy is the capacity to make an informed, uncoerced decision. Autonomous organizations or institutions are independent or self-governing. Autonomy can also be defi ...

center for cultural affairs constituted by the

Government of Kerala The Government of Kerala (abbreviated as GoK), also known as the Kerala Government, is the administrative body responsible for governing the Indian States and territories of India, state of Kerala. The government is led by a chief minister, who ...

and works under the Department of Cultural Affairs. It was established on 28 June 1995 to promote and project the traditional art forms of

Kerala Kerala ( , ) is a States and union territories of India, state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile ...

. It is located at

Chirakkal, Kannur Chirakkal is a census town in Kannur district in the state of Kerala, India. It is a suburb of Kannur city, about 7 km away. History The Kovilakam ("Palace" in the Malayalam language) of Kolathiris, the erstwhile ruling dynasty is situa ...

. The academy brings out a

quarterly A magazine is a periodical literature, periodical publication, print or digital, produced on a regular schedule, that contains any of a variety of subject-oriented textual and visual content (media), content forms. Magazines are generally fin ...

to promote the study and research in

folklore Folklore is the body of expressive culture shared by a particular group of people, culture or subculture. This includes oral traditions such as Narrative, tales, myths, legends, proverbs, Poetry, poems, jokes, and other oral traditions. This also ...

, and has published more than 25 books on the folklore of Kerala. It also produced a book about 100 folk art forms of Kerala and two dictionaries, one on

Chavittu Nadakam Chavittu Nadakam (Malayalam:ചവിട്ടുനാടകം) is a highly colorful Latin Christian classical art form originated in Ernakulam district, Kerala state in India. It is commonly believed that Fort Kochi is the birthplace of Ch ...

and another on

Beary language Byari or Beary (ಬ್ಯಾರಿ) is a geographically isolated dialect of Malayalam spoken by the Byaris who are part of the Muslim community in Tulu Nadu region of Coastal Karnataka and Northern Kerala ( Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Kasarg ...

History

The institution was formed under the Travancore Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration act of 1955. It began functioning on 20 January 1996, to impart training in folk arts and to ensure ongoing efforts in their development, promotion and perpetuation. In 2003, the

State Government A state government is the government that controls a subdivision of a country in a federal form of government, which shares political power with the federal or national government. A state government may have some level of political autonom ...

handed over the waterside palace of the Chirakkal kings, at Chirakkal, to the academy to use as their headquarters. Former secretary of the academy, M. Pradeep Kumar says, "the academy, recently in its study and analysis, have identified various other folklore art forms which are a part of our rich cultural heritage. ''Brahmini Paattu'', ''Chaatt Paattu'', ''Chakra Paattu'', ''Kadal Vanchi Paattu'' and the tribal songs are the recent additions to the folklore art. There are different types of tribal and traditional songs. The tribal songs of each ‘Ooru’ (a tribal colony) are different. There are nearly 1000 folk art forms existing in Kerala, which have been passed on from generation to generation."

Awards

The academy awards prizes and

fellow A fellow is a title and form of address for distinguished, learned, or skilled individuals in academia, medicine, research, and industry. The exact meaning of the term differs in each field. In learned society, learned or professional society, p ...

ships to notable artistes and experts in the field of folklore. The fellowships comprise 15000 each and citation. The folklore awards and ''book award'' carries 7500 and citation. The ''Gurupooja'' and ''Yuvaprathibha'' award winners will get 5000 each and citation. P. K. Kalan Award P. K. Kalan award was instituted in 2008, in the name of former academy chairman, Gaddika artist and

social activist Activism consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct or intervene in social, political, economic or environmental reform with the desire to make Social change, changes in society toward a perceived common good. Forms of activism range from ...

P. K. Kalan. It is awarded for contributions to the field of folk art forms. It comprises a cash prize of 100,000, a certificate and a statuette.

References

External links

* {{Music of Kerala Culture of Kerala Arts of Kerala Arts organisations based in India Performing arts in India Organisations based in Kerala Music organisations based in India Kerala folklore 1995 establishments in Kerala Arts organizations established in 1995