Kutiyattam
AI-drafted · awaiting admin review
One of the oldest living theatre traditions in India: Sanskrit plays performed in Kerala’s temple theatres with elaborate gesture, slow acting and drumming.
RitualWhere: KeralaOccasion: Temple festivals, performed in the koothambalam (temple theatre); today also on public stagesUNESCO heritage 2008
| Performed by | Traditionally Chakyar men as actors and Nangiar women in female roles, with Nambiar drummers |
|---|---|
| Costume | Painted faces and headdresses similar to Kathakali, with red, black and white costumes |
| Music and instruments | The large mizhavu drum, with kuzhitalam (cymbals), edakka, kurumkuzhal (pipe) and shankh (conch) |
How it is performed
- A lamp is lit and the drummers on the mizhavu open the performance with a ritual prelude.
- Actors chant Sanskrit and Prakrit verses from classical plays, such as those attributed to Bhasa.
- Each verse is explored in great detail through hand gestures, eye movements and facial expression.
- A single act can be expanded over many nights, with the Vidushaka (jester) explaining the story in Malayalam with humour.
Significance
Kutiyattam keeps Sanskrit drama alive as a temple offering. UNESCO proclaimed it a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001 and inscribed it on the Representative List in 2008.