CHAKYAR KOOTHU

A subgenre of the Kutiyattam dance drama tradition is Koothu. ‘Koothu’ literally means ‘dancing’. Nonetheless, Koothu, a well-known temple art form in Kerala, combines dramatic and storytelling/oratory techniques in a powerful way. The classic Koothu tradition has two versions. The first is Chakyarkoothu, which is performed by male Kutiyattam performers. Women from the Ambalavasi Nambiar community, who also take part in Kutiyattam plays, usually perform Nangiarkoothu or Nangyarammakoothu, the female version of Koothu, in which they play female charactersr.read more