When we talk about martial arts, the first picture comes into mind is that of the death defying, high flying action and fight sequences in Chinese, Thai and Hollywood films. When one thinks about martial arts we think about Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Korean and some western martial arts including Kung fu, Karate, Judo, Muay Thai, Taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga and many more.
But do you know there are a huge set of Indian martial arts too. In a country of thousands of years of history, a billion people, millions of races and cultures, there had to have some wars. For this, war arts were developed which we now call martial arts. According to the legend, it was the Indian Buddhist monk named Bodhidharma who traveled to China and introduced a set of physical exercises which eventually over the period of time became kung fu. When kung fu reached Japan it agglomerated with some local fighting styles and gave birth to Karate. So, martial arts were there in India a long time ago, even before kung fu and karate. Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata gives the details of a large set of weapons and fighting forms used in that era. Indian martial arts included sword fighting, spears, shields, wrestling, locks, joints, bows and arrows to name few.
Most of the Indian martial arts disappeared with time because of different cultures imposing there trends on existing population which came to India throughout history. But some of them remained and are still practiced in some parts of India.
Some of Indian Martial Arts are as follows:-
Kalaripayattu
Photograph: ajitvadakayil.blogspot.com
It is a martial art from Kerala and is one of the oldest fighting systems in existence. Kalaripayattu includes strikes, kicks, grappling, preset forms, weaponry and healing methods. It is believed that kalaripayattu was created by Parshurama (sage who was there in both Ramayana and Mahabharata).
Gatka
Photograph: http://www.sikhiwiki.org
It is a weapon-based martial art usually associated with the Punjab Region. The word refers to the wooden training sticks which are intended to simulate swords in sparring matches. It is mainly practiced by Sikh people.
Silambam
Photograph: http://www.sasori.ro
It is a weapon-based martial art from Tamil Nadu. There are numerous sub-sects in silambam like nagam-16 (cobra-16), kallapathu (thieves ten), kidamuttu (goat head butting),kuravanchi, kalyanavarisai (similar to quarterstaff), thulukkanam, and so on. Each is unique and may differ from one another in grip, posture, foot work, method of attack, length of the stick, movement of the stick etc.
Lathi
Photograph: nareshgotad.blogspot.com
It is a style of stick fighting practiced mainly in eastern India and throughout Bangladesh. The lathi is normally made of the male bamboo, and sometimes bound at short intervals with iron rings. A typical lathi measures 6 to 8-foot (2.4 m).
Thang-Ta
Photograph: Wikipedia
Thang-ta or huyen lallong is a weapon-based martial art from Manipur. Some of the weapons used are sword, spear, axe and shield.
Mardani khel
Photograph: Wikipedia
It is a weapon-based martial art created by the Marathas of Maharashtra. It is particularly known for its use of the uniquely Indian patta (gauntlet-sword) and vita (corded lance).
Musti-yuddha
It is a form of boxing practiced in Varanasi.
Pehlwani or Kushti
Photograph: pitsnews.com
It is a form of wrestling. It was developed in the Mughal era through a synthesis of native malla-yuddha and Persian varzesh-e-bastani.
Shastra Vidya
Photograph: http://www.ditadifulmine.net
It is again a Punjabi martial art mainly practiced by Sikh people. It can also be taken as a variant of gatka as they are of same region and so possesses similarity. Nidar Sigh Nihang is a famous shastra vidya martial artist.
Sqay
Sqay originated in Kashmir. Armed sqay makes use of a curved single-edge sword paired with a shield, while unarmed techniques incorporate kicks, punches, locks and chops.
Malla Yuddha
Photograph: Wikipedia
It is an ancestor of kushti. Due to large violence used in this martial art, it is no longer practiced. It consists of four styles namely, Hanumanti, Jambuvanti, Jarasandhi and Bhimaseni.
Pari Khanda
It is a type of sword and shield fighting from Bihar.
Paika Akhada
It was a martial art from Orissa and is now practices as a dance form.
Galoms 
Interesting!!! Do any Bollywood films use these in historical epics or modern action movies???? If so, can you let me know which ones?? Thanks!!!! Great and informative article.
Indian martial arts had never been a very important topic in Bollywood films. So, there are very few movies portraying these martial arts. However, some scenes of these martial arts can always be seen in these movies.
Vidyut Jaamwal, a new entrant in Bollywood is a Kalaripayattu expert. His movie ‘Commando’ can show you a glimpse of the ancient martial art. Jackie Chan’s ‘The Myth’ is also said to be greatly inspired by Kalaripayattu.
Gatka and Shastra Vidya are quite similar and can be seen in just some scenes in movies not full movies. These can also be seen in some Punjabi movies I guess. However, I don’t found any movie to be wholly dedicated to the art.
Kushti can be seen in many Bollywood movies but again only in some scenes. Movies like ‘Kushti’ show this but being a comedy movie it does not provide the details of complete martial art. It can also be seen in movie ‘Shikari: The Hunter’ featuring Dara Singh.
Other ancient Indian martial arts are lesser known and I can’t find any major movies featuring them. As times are changing, and fighting skills and fitness are becoming major trend setters, we may see some of these martial arts in near future.
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There are many more Martial Arts in Tamil Nadu namely KUTHU VARISAI (empty hand fighting similar to Karate and Kung Fu practiced along with Silambam and also known as empty hand Silambam), VARMA KALAI / ADI MURAI (http://adimurai.blogspot.in/), ADI THADI (a part of Adi Murai similar to Muay Thai), MARPOR, MADPOUR also called as MALYUTHAM (similar to Pankration, Ringa, Greco Roman and many other Wrestling styles) and KAI KUTHU SANDAI also known as Gusthi (which in its traditional form is similar to Musthi Yuddha; and the hybridized form or modern form is similar to (Shaolin) and other Boxings styles, practiced in MMA).
The Martial Art of Varma Kalai / Adi Murai was shown in the film titled “INDIAN” BY KAMAL HASSAN. He learnt Varma Kalai / Adi Murai under Grandmaster Rajendran from Madurai. http://nebula.wsimg.com/b5d562cc2879c862cb0d1131339a8ec5?AccessKeyId=059E4DA09EBAB76A1CCF&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
The Martial Art of Silambam was shown in many Old Tamil Films like Thevar Magan, Mundhani Mudichu, Thannikattu Raja, Thural Ninnu Pochu, Rickshawkaran, Pattikada Pattanama, Karagattakaran, Bhadil Solval Bhadrakalai, Sakalakala Vallavan
Silambam Surul Pattai Fight in Rickshawkaran, can be seen here