Chakyar koothu
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Chakyar Koothu (pronounced
The performance
"Koothu" means dance ... which is a misnomer, as facial expressions are emphasized and there is minimal
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
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-
The late
See also
- Arts of Kerala
- Chakyar
- Mani Madhava Chakyar
- Mani Damodara Chakyar
- Painkulam Raman Chakyar
- Kathakali
- Koodiyattam
- Koothambalam
- Mohiniyattam
- Nambiar
- Natyakalpadrumam
- Ottamthullal
- Parayan Thullal
- Panchavadyam
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Latest India News | Breaking News | World & Business News | Sports & Entertainment news". Expressbuzz.com. Retrieved 30 September 2013.[permanent dead link]