Padmastra

Kalari Academy staged Padmastra as part of Esplanade’s In Youthful Company 2026. This was a gripping showcase of Kalaripayattu’s lethal elegance, transporting audiences back to the Chera Dynasty. Starting with the high-stakes precision of the Cheruvadi (short sticks), the intensity peaks with the mesmerising strikes of the Urumi—the flexible longsword feared on ancient battlefields. This display honours the warrior spirit of the Villavar (bowmen) and the sophisticated combat science of the era, where every movement was a testament to the discipline and power of the Chera infantry.