Theyyam is a deeply religious, pantheistic Dravidian ritual, preserved and practised in the northern villages of Kerala—primarily in the present-day Kasaragod and Kannur districts. Though classified as ritual folk art, Theyyam stands as the most prominent regional mainstream tradition of Kerala, on par with other classical forms that enjoy the freedom to be performed widely. In essence, Theyyam is total theatre: a belief-driven ritual performed within an agrarian society, historically, structured by caste divisions and class-based occupations.

The entire fraternity of Theyyam artists hails from historically marginalised communities within Kerala’s caste structure, largely comprising the peasant class. Yet, during the ritual, when these performers take on divine form, even upper-caste patrons bow before them—acknowledging their transformation into sacrosanct figures, transcending social boundaries— briefly.