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       This is one of the most outstanding and popular ritual arts of northern Kerala. Presently it is found in the traditional Kolathunadu of the present Kannur and Kasargod District. As a living religious group with centuries old traditions, rituals and customs, it embraces almost all castes and classes of Hindu religion. The term theyyam is a distorted form of Dhaivam or God. It is a rare combination of dance and music and reflects important features of a tribal culture as a whole.

       Udayan Venmon Nannan mainly rules Ezhimalai, which is described in the sangam literature. It is situated in Kolathunadu near Payyannur. Therefore the Tamil sangam culture with variations still continues in this region. Over a period of 1500 years the dance of Velan community had taken new forms and developed in to the present day religious group of Theyyam. This uninterrupted continuity of sangam traditions makes theyyam a prominent religious system of north Kerala.

       This art has acquired a significant place in the cultural history of the region as a religious and social institution. Under the impact of Aryans the religious belief of Theyyam had changed. Now a days it incorporates new trends and sub cults along with its tribal character. In short it can be stated that all prominent characteristics of primitive tribal religious worship had widened the stream of Theyyam cult and made it a deep-rooted folk religion of the million. For instance, the belief of mother goddess had an important place in Theyyam.

       There are many kinds of worships which are included in the Thayyam cult and these are as follows: spirit-worship, hero worship, masathi worship, tree worship, ancestor worship, animal worship, serpent-worship, worship of the goddesses of disease, etc gramadevatha worship. Under the influence of Aryan myths and legends, a large number of brahmanical gods and goddesses had passed separate cuts into Theyyam.

       It can be said that during the days the Theyyam provides a good example for the religious evolution and its different stages in Hinduism. When the cult of Theyyam, borrowed liberally from Brahaminism, the brahmins with their social and caste superiority also encouraged the Theyyam gods and goddesses. They established their own Shrines and Kavus or Groves for Theyyam deities where non-brahmanical rituals and customs are observed. The goddesses like Raktheswari, Chamundi, Someshwari and Kurathi and gods like Vishnumoorthy are appeased in these household places of worship. The rituals in such shrines are different from those of the Brahmanical temples. Theyyam cult can be said as the religion of the masses. Even the followers of Islam are associated with the cult in its functional aspects.