Kerala has several art classical art forms that are unique to Kerala. It is known all over the world by its own performing art form, the Kathakali. "Katha" means story and "Kali" stands for dance.
Kathakali is a highly stylised classical dance-drama noted for its attractive make-up of characters, their elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion..

Kerala has a rich set of folk dances. They are highly developed and got refined over time and have unique music and costume for each. Most of these are performed in connection with harvests, sowing of seeds, religious or community festivals etc. Many of these dances are performed by men alone, some exclusively by women. There are few dance forms in which men and women perform together. Most prominent ones are Theyyam, Thiruvathira kali, Oppana, Parichmuttukali, Margom kali, Kuthiyottam, Kavadiyattam, Thirayattam, Pulikali etc.

Narendra Prasad was a man who proved his resourcefulness in different arenas including actor, playwright, director, teacher and literary critic. He was born at Mavelikkara in Alappuzha District of Kerala on December 26, 1946.

Film music (playback music) is the most popular music in Malayalam, as the other Indian languages. From the 1950s, musicians like V. Dakshinamurthy, K. Raghavan , G. Devarajan and M.S. Babu Raj and lyricists like P. Bhaskaran , O.N.V. Kurup and Vayalar Rama Varma revolutionised the Malayalam film music, thus creating an identity of its own. K.J. Yesudas, who debuted in 1961 became the most popular Malayalam singer ever.

The tradition of painting in Kerala goes as far back as can be conceived. Drawing large figures of deities such as Bhagavathy and Bhadrakali has been in vogue either as Kalamezhuthu or in some other form.
Mylanchi or henna tattooing is an art the women of Kerala have practiced since eternity. Tainting their .