In the enchanting coastal landscapes of Kerala, India, a revolution is quietly unfolding. Here, amidst the gentle lapping of waves and the rustling of palm fronds, a group of women is defying age-old norms and societal expectations. They are not the typical figures one would associate with this southwestern state, known for its adherence to traditional feminine roles. Instead, they are a testament to strength, resilience, and the indomitable human spirit – Kerala's female bodybuilders.

Keerthana Kunnath, a London-based photographer hailing from Kerala, has been at the forefront of documenting this extraordinary movement. Her lens captures not just the physical prowess of these women but also the courage that propels them to challenge the status quo. In a society where bodybuilding for women is still a taboo, these athletes are breaking free from the shackles of convention and forging their own paths.

Kunnath's journey into this world began serendipitously when she stumbled upon a competitor's Instagram account. What she found was a community of women who had dedicated their lives to the sport, defying not only societal norms but often the wishes of their own families. "Where we are, it's not a very common thing," Kunnath explained in a phone call. "I would barely call it a 'community' because it's still fairly new, and there's only a very handful of girls who are into it."

Yet, this small but growing community is making significant strides. Across India, an increasing number of female competitors have achieved professional status with the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation, a feat that was unheard of just a few years ago. Deepika Chowdury, a former molecular biologist, became the first Indian woman to do so in 2016, paving the way for others to follow.

Kunnath's initial interest lay in the gender-neutral martial art Kalaripayattu, which originated in Kerala. However, she soon found her true calling when she discovered that the women she encountered were more focused on bodybuilding. Her series, "Not What You Saw," features these extraordinary women, each with their own unique story of determination and self-discovery.

The bodybuilders Kunnath photographed were not well-acquainted with each other, but they were aware of one another through social media and competitions. There was a sense of mutual admiration among them, a recognition of each other's hard work and dedication. "Every time I connected with each person, and I told them I'm going to photograph that person before you, they would be like, 'Oh my god, I know her – her body is stunning. Her thighs are crazy,'" Kunnath said with a laugh. "It felt like mutual admiration between all of them."

One such story is that of Bhumika Kumar, a 22-year-old from Kochi, Kerala. For her, bodybuilding competitions have been the fulfillment of a lifelong dream to become an athlete – a dream that was once denied her as a child. "My parents wouldn't let me go out and play with other kids. Hence, I was not a very physically active kid during my school days. I was always low in stamina and strength," she wrote via WhatsApp. As an adult, she found her way to exercise through workout videos on YouTube and joined a gym "after lots of fights with family," she said. The decision to compete professionally was not an easy one, but the allure of the stage was too strong to resist. "I couldn't stop thinking about stepping onstage," she said. "Then I finally decided to go for it and met my coach."

Kumar is not alone in facing familial pressures. Many of the women in Kunnath's series have had to contend with relatives who felt entitled to dictate their personal choices. "A lot of them had pressure from their family and extended relatives: 'How are you letting your daughter go into this space where they're working on their muscles? They're showing off their bodies,'" Kunnath said, recalling the kinds of comments her subjects had heard.

Kerala's female bodybuilders are entering a high-pressure, male-dominated sport that requires daily commitment under coaches primarily used to training men. One of Kunnath's subjects, 25-year-old Sandra A S, has been training for four years and now coaches aspiring bodybuilders as well. She hopes to break barriers for women competitors by winning a qualification card to compete professionally on the international stage.

As Kunnath visualized the series, she drew inspiration from the iconography of Indian goddesses that she encountered during her childhood. "I still remember having these posters of goddesses in front of these serene backgrounds," she recalled. Working with a local stylist, Elton John, Kunnath pursued non-sexualized, heroic portraits with muted pastels and flowing fabrics, a stark departure from the gym clothes or the punchy, colorful bathing suits and direct lighting of the bodybuilding stage. "They are these extremely muscular, strong, confident girls… but still, they still have this softness to them," Kunnath said.

The photographer found that the more a bodybuilder bulks, the more she is treated as a "really strong, intimidating character," but that's not always the case. Since beginning the series, Kunnath has also made a point of supporting her subjects by attending their competitions and taking their professional headshots as a "thank you" for being part of the work. "They had to carve this space for themselves," she said. "I feel like those stories should be celebrated."

These women are not just building muscles; they are building a future where strength and femininity coexist harmoniously. They are challenging the stereotypes that have long confined women to certain roles and expectations. Through their sweat, determination, and unwavering belief in themselves, they are rewriting the narrative of what it means to be a woman in Kerala and beyond.

In a world that often seeks to define and limit, Kerala's female bodybuilders are a beacon of hope and inspiration. They are the embodiment of the belief that one can be both strong and feminine, that one can break free from the chains of tradition and forge a path that is uniquely their own. As they continue to push boundaries and shatter glass ceilings, they serve as a reminder that the human spirit is capable of overcoming even the most deeply ingrained societal norms.

Their journey is not an easy one, but it is one that is fraught with triumphs and victories. Each rep, each set, each competition is a step forward in a battle that is as much about self-discovery as it is about physical prowess. They are not just bodybuilders; they are warriors, fighting for a world where every woman has the freedom to define her own strength.

In the end, the images captured by Kunnath's lens are not just photographs; they are stories of resilience, of courage, and of the unyielding human spirit. They are a testament to the fact that when women are given the opportunity to pursue their passions, there is no limit to what they can achieve. And as Kerala's female bodybuilders continue to break barriers and inspire others, they are not just changing the face of bodybuilding; they are changing the world.