Man Kali is a tribal dance popular in
Kerala. In Man Kali, one of the players takes the role of a deer while another that of a hunter. The deer hops about to escape from the hunter. The hunter follows close at heels and his movements and gestures suggest drawing the bow, hurling the spear, or brandishing some wooden log at the deer. The dance is performed to the rhythm of wild percussion instruments. One of the versions enacts the Ramayana episode in which Sita is being enchanted by Maricha in the guise of a golden deer.
