Koothu

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Koothu
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Koothu costumes, c.1700–1750
Stylistic originsAncient Tamil music, Dance forms of Tamil Nadu
Cultural originsTamilakam
Derivative formsTerukkuttu, Kattaikkuttu

Koothu, or Therukoothu, is an ancient Tamil art form, where artists enacted scenes from epics and folklore with dance and music. It is a form of storytelling art that originated in the early Tamilakam, and served as an entertainment and a medium to educate the people about religion and history. Various forms exist such as Terukuttu and Kattaikkuttu.

Description

Koothu is an ancient Tamil art form, which is a form of drama, where artists enacted scenes from epics and folklore with dance and music. It involves play performance along with narration and singing.[1] Sangam literature such as Silappatikaram provide detailed description of the art form.[2] The stories are drawn from Hindu epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata, mythology and folklore. Apart from entertainment, koothu also serves as a medium of education to the rural people about religion and history.[3]

Variations

Koothu broadly consists of the art forms of Terukuttu and Kattaikkuttu. Terukkuttu refers to mobile performances in a procession, while Kattaikkuttu denotes narrative performance, often performed overnight, on a fixed performance space.[4][5] Koothu generally means a performance and is used as a part of the names denoting other specific art forms. These include Nattu Koothu, Kuravai Koothu, and Valli Koothu, which depict scenes from the state and culture of different peoples in Tamil country. Samaya Koothu showcases religious topics, while Porkaala Koothu, Pei Koothu, and Thunangai Koothu are focused on the martial arts and war of the country. Other forms include Chakyar Koothu and Ottan koothu, a tribal ritual dance form.[6][7] Bommalattam, a type of string puppetry, is also referred to as thol pavai koothu (dance of leather dolls).[8]

Performance

Koothu performer

The performers are called as "koothar".[2] They wear elaborate wooden headgear, special costumes with swirling skirts, ornaments such as heavy anklets along with prominent face painting and make-up.[9] While traditionally the performers have been predominantly male, women have been included in modern times.[10]

The art is a form of street theater, performed during festivals in open public places such as temples or village squares. It is usually dedicated to Hindu goddesses such as Mariamman or Draupadi. The dance is accompanied by music played from traditional instruments and the story is usually narrated by a kattiyakaran in the background during the performance.[9] The artisians often train in a koothu pattarai (theatre workshop) under a nattuvanar (teacher).[11]

Areas of practice

Koothu is an art form which has been practised in Tamil Nadu since the Sangam period.[2][12] Theater groups such as the Koothu-P-Pattarai have been performing the art form in the 21st century.[13][14] Dedicated schools such as Kattaikuthu Gurkulam and various training programmes have also been established for training artisans.[5][15] In the early 2020s, the art form suffered a dip due to the COVID-19 enforced lockdowns, with artists struggling for means to earn a livelihood.[16]

Apart from Tamil Nadu, as Tamils migrated abroad to various countries such as Sri Lanka and Fiji, the art form was carried to those regions.[17][18] In Fiji, it is called as "tirikutu" in Fiji, and is performed by males during temples festivals.[18][19]

See also

References

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  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Axel Michaels; Christoph Wulf, eds. (2012). Images of the Body in India: South Asian and European Perspectives on Rituals and Performativity. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-13670-392-8. Archived from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Vijaya Ramaswamy (2017). Historical Dictionary of the Tamils. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 357. ISBN 978-1-538-10686-0.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Therukoothu". Tamilnadu.com. Archived from the original on 19 June 2013.
  4. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Therukoothu: The People's Art". Times of Madurai. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  5. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Mangai, A. (26 March 2025). "How a koothu performance proved to be a social leveller". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 28 May 2025. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Theru Koothu". Archived from the original on 22 June 2011.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Shovana Narayan (2004). Folk Dance Traditions of India. Shubhi Publication. p. 226-227. ISBN 978-81-87226-93-2. Archived from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Shadow play". Frontline. 15 May 2013. Archived from the original on 22 April 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  9. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Wolf, Gita; Geetha, V.; Ravishankar, Anushka (2003). Masks and Performance with Everyday Materials. Tara Publishing. p. 37-38. ISBN 978-8-18621-147-2. Archived from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Srinivasaraghavan, N. C. (7 October 2021). "Women take centre stage at Kattaikkuttu Sangam". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Remembered realities". Frontline. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Niraalee Shah (2021). Indian Etiquette: A Glimpse Into India's Culture. Notion Press. p. 132. ISBN 978-1-63886-554-4.
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Santhanam, Kausalya (21 September 2005). "Master of avant-garde theatre". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
  14. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Koothu-P-Pattarai". India9. 21 September 2005. Archived from the original on 18 November 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
  15. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Koothu comes to town". The Hindu. 18 May 2016. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  16. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Shekar, Anjana (18 June 2020). "Traditional folk artists across Tamil Nadu hit hard during lockdown". The News Minute. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  17. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Diasporic Monograph (PDF). SAARC (Report). February 2016. p. 181. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  18. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Hindus In Navua Mark End Of Pooja". Fiji Sun. 28 July 2015. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  19. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Devotees prepare for prayer ceremony". Fiji Times. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2025.

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