Panchavarna- the 5 colour principle in Kerala

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2010

Working on the final project for the completion of the one year course.

I have obviously fallen in love with 'Colours' in the past one year. With the stories behind colours. With the stories that colours tell. and with the stories that define the usage of colours in different parts of our world.

I studied 'Colours in Kerala- Past, Present and Future'. Traveled to different parts of Kerala. Met various artists, experts and academicians. Analysed about 20 art forms of Kerala, from the point of view of colours used in those.

The Kerala Mural Paintings introduced me to the concept of the Panchavarnas- or the five colours- black, white, red, yellow and green. These are the only colours used in this style of painting. The surprising element here is that blue is not part of the colour scheme, even though in most theory or studies about colours and paintings, blue is included as one of the primary colours. Primary colours are those that cannot be created from mixing any other colours, therefore basic or primary. Red, Blue and Yellow are the primary colours. Then why is Blue not used in one of the most amazing styles of painting in the country. And the interesting part is that blue raw material is used to form the colour green to be used in these paintings, but blue is never used as is.

Taking the study further, I realised that the same 5 colours are used in all the art forms in Kerala.- Kathakali, Theyyam, Mohiniyattam, Kalaripayattu, Koodiyattam, and many more. There is an absence of Blue. If at all blue is used, it is in later additions in stage, costume, etc., and not in the character defining makeup or symbolisms.

The strange absence of blue and the reasons for it were explored.

There were different theories for the usage of the five colour system as well, all equally interesting and thought-provoking.

Political, religious, social and cultural colours were explored. The major political party flags also do not use blue. Except for Judaism, where blue is significant, there is not much emphasis on blue in the other religious symbolisms that exist in Kerala. The traditional attire of Kerala has white, gold (yellow) which is often used along with green, red or black. Blue is not so common.

With the advent of the paint companies to Kerala, the beautiful character that was originally present in the brown and white houses of Kerala went for a royal toss. There are psychedelic blots that dot the neighbourhood. Bright orange, parrot green, candy pink- you name it you have these ugly colours for home exteriors and its almost painful looking at these, and highly depressing to know that this is what has come of the old world charm of the architecture with so much character in Kerala.

In short, with the media clutter, logos of multinational and national brands fighting for space, and confused preferences as a result of globalization, Kerala too is moving towards a postmodern almost kitsch colour scheme.