Kalaripayattu is a very graceful martial art with lots of physical and mental benefits for its practitioners. We felt that this art form must be learnt by people outside Kerala too and wanted to give them an opportunity to do so,” says Sundarajan T S, manager, students’ academic affairs and liaison, KJ Somaiya College.

This September, Somaiya College introduced a three-year degree course in the ancient Kerala martial art. To help Mumbaiites learn the discipline, the college has roped in Belraj Soni, a well-known Kalaripayattu trainer.