Koothu
Tamil performing folk art
title: "Koothu" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["tamil-culture", "tamil-dance-styles", "classical-theatre-of-india"] description: "Tamil performing folk art" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koothu" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Tamil performing folk art ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox music genre"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Koothu |
| image | MET DP363734.jpg |
| image_size | 250 |
| caption | Koothu costumes, c.1700–1750 |
| stylistic_origins | Ancient Tamil music, Dance forms of Tamil Nadu |
| cultural_origins | Tamilakam |
| derivatives | Terukkuttu, Kattaikkuttu |
| :: |
| name = Koothu | image = MET DP363734.jpg | image_size = 250 | caption = Koothu costumes, c.1700–1750 | stylistic_origins = Ancient Tamil music, Dance forms of Tamil Nadu | cultural_origins = Tamilakam | derivatives = Terukkuttu, Kattaikkuttu Koothu, or Therukoothu, is an ancient Tamil art form, where artists enacted scenes from epics and folklore with dance and music. It is a form of storytelling art that originated in the early Tamilakam, and served as an entertainment and a medium to educate the people about religion and history. Various forms exist such as Terukuttu and Kattaikkuttu.
Description
Koothu is an ancient Tamil art form, which is a form of drama, where artists enacted scenes from epics and folklore with dance and music. It involves play performance along with narration and singing. Sangam literature such as Silappatikaram provide detailed description of the art form. The stories are drawn from Hindu epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata, mythology and folklore. Apart from entertainment, koothu also serves as a medium of education to the rural people about religion and history.
Variations
Koothu broadly consists of the art forms of Terukuttu and Kattaikkuttu. Terukkuttu refers to mobile performances in a procession, while Kattaikkuttu denotes narrative performance, often performed overnight, on a fixed performance space. Koothu generally means a performance and is used as a part of the names denoting other specific art forms. These include Nattu Koothu, Kuravai Koothu, and Valli Koothu, which depict scenes from the state and culture of different peoples in Tamil country. Samaya Koothu showcases religious topics, while Porkaala Koothu, Pei Koothu, and Thunangai Koothu are focused on the martial arts and war of the country. Other forms include Chakyar Koothu and Ottan koothu, a tribal ritual dance form. Bommalattam, a type of string puppetry, is also referred to as thol pavai koothu (dance of leather dolls).
Performance
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Aritharam.JPG" caption="Koothu performer"] ::
The performers are called as "koothar". They wear elaborate wooden headgear, special costumes with swirling skirts, ornaments such as heavy anklets along with prominent face painting and make-up. While traditionally the performers have been predominantly male, women have been included in modern times.
The art is a form of street theater, performed during festivals in open public places such as temples or village squares. It is usually dedicated to Hindu goddesses such as Mariamman or Draupadi. The dance is accompanied by music played from traditional instruments and the story is usually narrated by a kattiyakaran in the background during the performance. The artisians often train in a koothu pattarai (theatre workshop) under a nattuvanar (teacher).
Areas of practice
Koothu is an art form which has been practised in Tamil Nadu since the Sangam period. Theater groups such as the Koothu-P-Pattarai have been performing the art form in the 21st century. Dedicated schools such as Kattaikuthu Gurkulam and various training programmes have also been established for training artisans. In the early 2020s, the art form suffered a dip due to the COVID-19 enforced lockdowns, with artists struggling for means to earn a livelihood.
Apart from Tamil Nadu, as Tamils migrated abroad to various countries such as Sri Lanka and Fiji, the art form was carried to those regions. In Fiji, it is called as "tirikutu" in Fiji, and is performed by males during temples festivals.
References
References
- (2012). "Images of the Body in India: South Asian and European Perspectives on Rituals and Performativity". [[Taylor & Francis]].
- Vijaya Ramaswamy. (2017). "Historical Dictionary of the Tamils". [[Rowman & Littlefield]].
- "Therukoothu". Tamilnadu.com.
- "Therukoothu: The People's Art". Times of Madurai.
- Mangai, A.. (26 March 2025). "How a koothu performance proved to be a social leveller". [[The Hindu]].
- "Theru Koothu".
- Shovana Narayan. (2004). "Folk Dance Traditions of India". Shubhi Publication.
- (15 May 2013). "Shadow play". [[Frontline (magazine).
- (2003). "Masks and Performance with Everyday Materials". Tara Publishing.
- Srinivasaraghavan, N. C.. (7 October 2021). "Women take centre stage at Kattaikkuttu Sangam". [[The Hindu]].
- (8 November 2018). "Remembered realities". [[Frontline (magazine).
- Niraalee Shah. (2021). "Indian Etiquette: A Glimpse Into India's Culture". [[Notion Press]].
- Santhanam, Kausalya. (21 September 2005). "Master of avant-garde theatre". [[The Hindu]].
- (21 September 2005). "Koothu-P-Pattarai". India9.
- (18 May 2016). "Koothu comes to town". [[The Hindu]].
- Shekar, Anjana. (18 June 2020). "Traditional folk artists across Tamil Nadu hit hard during lockdown". The News Minute.
- (February 2016). "Diasporic Monograph". [[SAARC]].
- (28 July 2015). "Hindus In Navua Mark End Of Pooja". [[Fiji Sun]].
- (26 May 2015). "Devotees prepare for prayer ceremony". [[Fiji Times]].
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