Chakyar koothu

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Guru Padma Shri Mani Madhava Chakyar performing Chakyar koothu

Chakyar Koothu (pronounced

Hindu epics (such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata) and stories from the Puranas.[1] Sometimes, however, it is also a traditional equivalent of the modern stand-up comedy act, incorporating commentary on current socio-political events (and personal comments directed at the members of the audience).[2]

The performance

"Koothu" means dance ... which is a misnomer, as facial expressions are emphasized and there is minimal

Ambalavasi Nambiars
.

It is a solo performance, by a narrator in a distinctive headgear and black moustache with his torso smeared with sandalwood paste and red dots all over the body. The headgear resembles snake’s hood, to symbolise the narration by Anantha, the thousand headed serpent.[1]

The Chakyar narrates the story based on the Sanskrit style of "Champu Prabandha" - a mixture of prose (gadya) and poetry (shloka). He begins with a prayer to the deity of the temple. He then goes on to narrate a verse in Sanskrit before explaining it in Malayalam. The narration uses wit and humor to draw parallels with current events and local situations.

Koothu has traditionally been performed only by the

Nambiar
caste, and is a more highly refined theatre art.

Māni Mādhava Chākyār

Chakyar Koothu was originally performed only in Koothambalams of Hindu temples. It was Natyacharya- meaning a great teacher and practitioner of natyam (dramaturgy), a title accorded in his honour-

Māni Mādhava Chākyār, a virtuoso of this art, who took Koothu and Kudiyattam outside the temples to the common people. He was the first to perform Chakyar Koothu for All India Radio and Doordarshan
. Many consider him to be the greatest Chakyar Koothu and Kutiyattam artist of modern times. The story goes that his guru,
Tripunithura, then the capital of the Kingdom of Cochin
. The incident proved his mastery of both Sanskrit and the classical art forms. After some months, he performed the entire Prahlādacharita on the same stage.

The late

Painkulam Raman Chakyar
were another important 20th century figure in this art form.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "<meta HTTP-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/HTML; charset=iso-8859-1"/> NameBright - Coming Soon". Archived from the original on 11 April 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2009.
  2. ^ "Latest India News | Breaking News | World & Business News | Sports & Entertainment news". Expressbuzz.com. Retrieved 30 September 2013.[permanent dead link]

External links