koothu

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.{{cite book|title=Images of the Body in India: South Asian and European Perspectives on Rituals and Performativity|year=2012|isbn=978-1-13670-392-8|publisher=Taylor & Francis|editor1=Axel Michaels|editor2=Christoph Wulf|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ui2pAgAAQBAJ&q=koothu|access-date=16 July 2024|archive-date=16 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716140334/https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Images_of_the_Body_in_India/ui2pAgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=koothu|url-status=live}} Sangam literature such as Silappatikaram provide detailed description of the art form.{{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of the Tamils|author=Vijaya Ramaswamy|year=2017|isbn=978-1-538-10686-0|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|page=357}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://tamilnadu.com/arts/therukoothu.html|title=Therukoothu|work=Tamilnadu.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619060246/http://tamilnadu.com/arts/therukoothu.html|archive-date=19 June 2013}}

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.{{cite web|title=Therukoothu: The People's Art|url=http://www.maduraimessenger.org/printed-version/2010/april/therukoothu-the-people-s-art/|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116191807/http://www.maduraimessenger.org/printed-version/2010/april/therukoothu-the-people-s-art/|archive-date=16 January 2014|access-date=11 December 2010|work=Times of Madurai}}{{cite web |last=Mangai |first=A. |date=26 March 2025 |title=How a koothu performance proved to be a social leveller |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/theatre/how-a-koothu-performance-proved-to-be-a-social-leveller/article69376224.ece |access-date=13 June 2025 |work=The Hindu |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=28 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250528161018/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/theatre/how-a-koothu-performance-proved-to-be-a-social-leveller/article69376224.ece |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.mapsofindia.com/tamilnadu/music-and-dance/theru-koothu.html|title=Theru Koothu|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622055107/http://www.mapsofindia.com/tamilnadu/music-and-dance/theru-koothu.html |archive-date=22 June 2011}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s8vfAAAAMAAJ|page=226-227|title=Folk Dance Traditions of India|author=Shovana Narayan|publisher=Shubhi Publication|year=2004|isbn=978-81-87226-93-2 |access-date=16 July 2024|archive-date=16 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716140333/https://books.google.co.in/books?redir_esc=y&id=s8vfAAAAMAAJ|url-status=live}} Bommalattam, a type of string puppetry, is also referred to as thol pavai koothu (dance of leather dolls).{{cite web|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/arts-and-culture/shadow-play/article4705618.ece|title=Shadow play|date=15 May 2013|access-date=1 June 2024|work=Frontline|archive-date=22 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422134246/https://frontline.thehindu.com/arts-and-culture/shadow-play/article4705618.ece|url-status=live}}

File:Aritharam.JPG

The performers are called as "koothar". They wear elaborate wooden headgear, special costumes with swirling skirts, ornaments such as heavy anklets along with prominent face painting and make-up.{{cite book|title=Masks and Performance with Everyday Materials|first1=Gita|last1=Wolf|first2=V.|last2=Geetha|first3=Anushka|last3=Ravishankar|year=2003|isbn=978-8-18621-147-2|publisher=Tara Publishing|page=37-38|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c4XWU6kr1_UC&pg=PA37|access-date=16 July 2024|archive-date=16 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240716140337/https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Masks_and_Performance_with_Everyday_Mate/c4XWU6kr1_UC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA37|url-status=live}} While traditionally the performers have been predominantly male, women have been included in modern times.{{cite web |last=Srinivasaraghavan |first=N. C. |date=7 October 2021 |title=Women take centre stage at Kattaikkuttu Sangam |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/theatre/women-take-centre-stage-at-kattaikkuttu-sangam/article]] | work=The Hindu |issn=0971-751X}}

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. The artisians often train in a koothu pattarai (theatre workshop) under a nattuvanar (teacher).{{cite web|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/obituary/article25437297.ece|title=Remembered realities|date=8 November 2018|access-date=1 June 2025|work=Frontline}}

Koothu is an art form which has been practised in Tamil Nadu since the Sangam period.{{cite book|title=Indian Etiquette: A Glimpse Into India's Culture|author=Niraalee Shah|year=2021|isbn=978-1-63886-554-4|page=132|publisher=Notion Press}} Theater groups such as the Koothu-P-Pattarai have been performing the art form in the 21st century.{{cite web |last=Santhanam |first=Kausalya |date=21 September 2005 |title=Master of avant-garde theatre |url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/11/28/stories/2008112850610300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202034312/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/11/28/stories/2008112850610300.htm |archive-date=2 December 2008 |access-date=1 February 2009 |work=The Hindu}}{{cite web |title=Koothu-P-Pattarai |date=21 September 2005 |url=http://www.india9.com/i9show/Koothu-P-Pattarai-57185.htm |access-date=1 February 2009 |work=India9 |archive-date=18 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091118173200/http://www.india9.com/i9show/Koothu-P-Pattarai-57185.htm |url-status=live }} Dedicated schools such as Kattaikuthu Gurkulam and various training programmes have also been established for training artisans.{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/koothu-comes-to-town/article5702479.ece|title=Koothu comes to town|date=18 May 2016|access-date=1 June 2025|work=The Hindu|archive-date=2 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102092745/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/koothu-comes-to-town/article5702479.ece|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web |last=Shekar |first=Anjana |date=18 June 2020 |title=Traditional folk artists across Tamil Nadu hit hard during lockdown |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/traditional-folk-artists-across-tamil-nadu-hit-hard-during-lockdown-126841 |access-date=13 June 2025| work=The News Minute }}

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.{{cite report|url=https://saarcculture.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/diasporic-monograph.pdf|title=Diasporic Monograph|date=February 2016|page=181|work=SAARC|access-date=1 June 2025|archive-date=8 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108082331/https://saarcculture.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/diasporic-monograph.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2015/07/28/hindus-in-navua-mark-end-of-pooja/|title=Hindus In Navua Mark End Of Pooja|date=28 July 2015|access-date=1 June 2025|work=Fiji Sun|archive-date=27 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127141438/https://fijisun.com.fj/2015/07/28/hindus-in-navua-mark-end-of-pooja/|url-status=live}} In Fiji, it is called as "tirikutu" in Fiji, and is performed by males during temples festivals.{{cite news|url=https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/devotees-prepare-for-prayer-ceremony/|title=Devotees prepare for prayer ceremony|date=26 May 2015|access-date=1 June 2025|work=Fiji Times}}

• Dappankuthu

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.therukoothu.org Therukoothu.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405193649/http://www.therukoothu.org/ |date=5 April 2013 }}
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUJPioz_lMk Therukoothu documentary], Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation

{{Dance in India}}

Category:Tamil culture

Category:Tamil dance styles

Category:Classical theatre of india