Dagger or Kadtaram

is a short, sharp, metal weapon used in Kalaripayattu, the traditional martial art form of Kerala.

Dagger is a weapon which is quite handy, easy to hide and less breakable. It has a blade with a slight curve, sharp on both sides and pointed at the tip.

In the Payattu or fight, both attack and defence are done with the dagger itself. No shield is used in the fight. In Kadtaram fight, there are twelve adavus (tactics).