Koothu

Is a mono-act in which a single actor, the chakiar acts the role of all the characters to the accompaniment of the mizhavu played by the Nambiar and the cymbals by the Nangiar. The members of the professional Chakyar caste perform this classical dance and that too only in Koothambalams of Temples. It is one of the oldest of theoretical arts peculiar to Kerala. The term Koothu literally means dance, which may be taken as an index of the importance attached to the dance in the original form of the arts. As a matter of fact, the movements and facial expressions and the signs and gesture employed by the actor in Koothu are said to approximate more closely to the principles laid down in the authoritative Sanskrit treatise on the subject, Bharatha’s Natya Sastra.

The actors recite stories from the epics (based on Sanskrit text) interpreting them in Malayalam, enlivening their narration with Thandava dance rhythms and also gestures and bodily postures, which are clearly derived from Natya Sastra.

The Koothu is very much dominated by the cosmic elements. Impersonated through mime and gesture and interspersed with occasional dances, the narrative art of the Chakyar is essentially dramatic. Humorous, witty analogues and allusions to topical, political and social events are brought in during the narration and the dancer gets ample facilities for criticising men and things of local interest. Seldom does he miss an opportunity to make comic comments on contemporary life and society. He ridicules the follies and foibles of the age with impunity.

In actual performance the dancer stands on the platform of the Koothambalam adorned with his special type of headgear and peculiar facial make-up. He then offers prayers to the presiding deity of the particular temple where he is performing. After that he recites a verse from the Sanskrit text from which he intends to expound and then explains it in Malayalam. The instruments used are a pair of cymbals and the mizhavu, which is a big copper drum. A member of the Nambiar caste beats rhythm on the mizhavu at the required intervals. Women known as Nangiars play the cymbals invariably.

Koothu presented, as a solo item by a Chakyar is also known as Prabhandha Koothu. Occasionally, Nangiar women present it, and are called Nangiar Koothu.