Theyyams of Malabar: Alia Refaat

Photo ©Alia Refaat-All Rights Reserved.
Final makeup touches on a Theyyam, Thrikannad Temple, North Kerala

The Theyyam of Malabar Photo Expedition was joined by a number of talented full-time and part time photographers, whose primary objective was to photograph the Theyyam religious rituals as well as the Kathakali dance-drama, both indigenous to Kerala.

This is the second of a series of posts which showcase some of the work of the photographers who joined the expedition. The second post features four photographs by Alia (Coucla) Refaat, a commercial photographer from Cairo, Egypt. Alia studied Mass Communications, and trained at Spéos Paris in commercial, portrait and studio photography. She used a Canon 5D Mark II and a 24-70mm 2.8 on most of her photo shoots during the expedition. It is Alia's first travel photography expedition, and she plans a series of exhibitions in Cairo of her photographs.

Photo ©Alia Refaat-All Rights Reserved.
A Theyyam ensconced in his costume, Pullikunnu, Kasaragode, North Kerala


Photo ©Alia Refaat-All Rights Reserved.
A Kathakali performer carefully applying his makeup, Thrissur, Kerala


Photo ©Alia Refaat-All Rights Reserved.
A Kathakali performer being assisted in his costume, Thrissur, Kerala