When Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi this week, the gift he carried wasn’t a routine souvenir or a customary artefact but a handcrafted Bhairava Theyyam sculpture, a powerful emblem of Kerala’s rich ritual art tradition.
The striking piece was sculpted by Sundaresan VP, a 54-year-old artist from Payyanur in Kannur, who currently works at the state’s Crafts Village in Iringal, Vadakara. “It was a government requirement,” says Sundaresan with characteristic humility. “We have a large collection of Theyyam sculptures here, and they selected one from it.”
The Bhairava Theyyam sculpture, made from jackfruit tree wood, took over two months to complete. Standing at 25 inches and weighing around eight kilograms, the work was entirely crafted and painted by Sundaresan himself. Every curve, pattern, and shade on the sculpture is the result of patient hours spent chiselling, sanding, and colouring. “The detailing on Bhairava Theyyam is very intricate, and the paintwork demands a lot of focus,” he says.
For Sundaresan, this isn’t just art, it’s inheritance. Born in Payyannur, a region where folklore and Theyyam are inseparable from daily life, he grew up surrounded by performers and artisans. “My family and friends were all involved in the art. I naturally picked it up from them,” he says. After completing his degree, he chose to follow his passion full-time, dedicating himself to preserving the essence of Kerala’s folk art through sculpture.
Theyyam, performed in the temples and courtyards of North Malabar, is more than just a ritual dance. It’s a living tradition that merges devotion, performance, and visual grandeur. The performer, often painted in vivid colours and elaborate headgear, is believed to embody the deity himself during the ritual. There are around 400 to 500 forms of Theyyam performed across the region, each with its own myth and identity. Among them, Bhairava Theyyam holds a special place.
Apart from Bhairava, Sundaresan also crafts sculptures of Parassinikadavu Muthappan, Bhagavathy Theyyam, Bali Theyyam, and Ramayana Theyyam. Photo: Special Arrangement
In Hindu mythology, Bhairava is a fierce and powerful manifestation of Lord Shiva. The sculptural representation captures this duality: ferocity balanced with divine calm. “There’s something magnetic about the Bhairava Theyyam,” Sundaresan says. “People always stop and take a second look at it. It has that commanding presence.”
Apart from Bhairava, Sundaresan also crafts sculptures of Parassinikadavu Muthappan, Bhagavathy Theyyam, Bali Theyyam, and Ramayana Theyyam. Each work, he explains, carries its own mythological significance and takes months to create. “The time depends on the intricacy. We also decide the weight and size depending on who it’s for. If it’s being given to someone elderly, we make sure it’s not too heavy to hold,” he adds.
Sundaresan’s other works. Photo: Special Arrangement
The Bhairava Theyyam presented to the Prime Minister wasn’t his first work to reach a national leader. During an earlier visit, then Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar was gifted a Vishakandan Theyyam sculpture, also made by Sundaresan. “The enquiry for this Bhairava sculpture came just a few days before the meeting,” he recalls. “They specifically asked for Bhairava Theyyam. They even consulted Theyyam performers to confirm the details before finalising it.”
Priced between ₹1.5 and ₹2 lakh, each Bhairava Theyyam sculpture reflects the intensity of Sundaresan’s craftsmanship and the deep-rooted stories of Kerala’s cultural landscape. For him, though, recognition isn’t measured in money or fame. “It feels good to know that something created with your hands carries Kerala’s spirit to places like the Prime Minister’s home,” he says.
Behind the craftsman’s calm voice lies a deep pride in his art and an immense gratitude for the support of his family, especially his wife Valsala.
Sundaresan says the sculpture has drawn attention only because it was presented to the Prime Minister. ‘I’ve been making Bhairava Theyyam for years,’ he says, ‘and I’m just happy more people are noticing the art now.’