KOODIATTAM

KOODIATTAM IS A THEATRICAL ART--IT PRESENTS A SELECT PORTION OF ONE STORY.TWO OR THREE ACTORS APPEAR ON THE STAGE AT SAME TIME.THE ROLE OF MALE CHARACTER IS PERFORMED
BY CHAKKIAR AND THE NANGIAR PERFORMS THE ROLE OF FEMALE.THE NANGIARS SOUNDS CYMBALS
AND RECITE SANSKRIT VERSES WHICH CHAKKIAR ENACTS.VIDUSHAKA(CLOWN)RECITES THE MALAYALAM TRANSLATION OF EVERY SANSKRIT VERSE WHICH NANGIAR RECITES.
TODAY KOODIATTAM IS NOT VERY POPULAR.IT IS PERFORMED IN FEW MAJOR TEMPLES LIKE
-IRINJALAKUDA,PERUMANAM ,KOTTIYOOR ETC.

RITUAL ARTS OF KERALA

KOOTHU
THIS IS ONE OF THE THEATRICAL ARTS OF KERALA.IT IS A MONO ACT IN WHICH A SINGLE ACTOR (CHAKKIAR) WITH THE ACCOMPANIMENT OF MIZHAVU(A CLOSE
NECKED COPPER DRUM) PLAYS THE ROLE OF ALL THE CHARACTERS.THE CHAKKIAR EXPOUNDS PURANIC STORIES PUNCTUATING HIS NARRATIONS WITH
ILLUSTRATIONS FROM CONTEMPORARY LIFE.HE ENJOYS THE PRIVILEGE OF
CRACKING JOKES EVEN AT THE EXPENSE OF DIGNITARIES PRESENT IN THE AUDIENCE.THE AUDIENCE HAVE NO RIGHT TO RETORT.USUALLY IT IS ENACTED
IN TEMPLE KOOTHAMBALAMS.