The ripples of the river Bharathapuzha, known to the locals simply as Nila, are woven into the history and culture of Kerala in South India. The river flows down from the Anamalai hills in the Western Ghats and meanders through three districts, namely, Malappuram, Palakkad, and Thrissur, before finally emptying itself into the Arabian Sea at the village of Ponnani.

The internationally known center of performing arts, Kerala Kalamandalam, in Thrissur is located on the banks of this river. Nila is, however, the second in size among the rivers of Kerala, the largest being Periyar.