Koothambalam
Encyclopedia
Koothambalam' or Kuttampalam is a theater hall for staging Koothu
, Nangiar koothu and Koodiyattam
, the ancient dramatic art forms of Kerala
, India. Koothambalams are constructed according to the guide lines given in the chapter 2 of Nātyasāstra of Bharata Muni
. The hall is considered to be as sacred as the temple sanctum itself. It is constructed within the grounds of the Temple; more precisely within the pancaprakaras of the temple and is usually about 16m long and 12m broad with a square platform supported by pillars in the center.The whole area of the hall is divided in to two equal halves and one part is for performance (including stage, instruments, green room etc.) and other half for audience. During the performance, the stage is decorated with fruit-bearing plaintains, bunches of coconuts and fronds of the coconut palm. A para filled with rice is placed on the stage. A nilavilakku
is used for lighting. The mizhavu
, a percussion instrument for accompanying Koothu, is placed within a railed enclosure, with a high seat for the drummer( belonging to nampiar community).
Only men from the Chakyar
community are allowed to perform Koothu and Koodiyattam inside the Koothambalam. The women of the Ambalavasi
-Nambiar
caste (Nangyarammas), play Nangyar Koothu and the female characters of Koodiyattam. The traditional Ambalavasi- Nambiars play the mizhavu.
Famous temples with Koothambalams include the Sreekrishna Temple, Guruvayoor, Vadakkumnathan Temple, Trichur, Koodalmanikyam Temple, Irinjalakkuda, Siva Temple, Peruvanam, Trichur District, ree Mahadeva temple,Thiruvegappura], Thirumandhamkunnu Temple,[Angadippuram, Malappuram District, [Subrahmania temple, Harippad], [Thirumuzhikkulam Lakshamana Temple near Aluva], [Subrahmania temple, Kitangur], [Siva Temple, Chengngennur] etc. The Kerala Kalamandalam, Deemed University for Art and Culture, Cheruthuruthy, Thrischur District houses a beautiful Koothambalam. Another koothampalam at Vyloppilly Samskarika Nilayam, Trivandrum which is built recently is another example of the theatre structure built out of traditional context- ie., outside temple premises. All these are rectangular in plan. The plan, elevation and structure of these follow the shape grammar typical to the traditional Kerala architecture following the vastu rules prescribed in thantrasamuccayam and silparatnam, the authentic texts on temple vastu.
.'Kuttampalam and Kutiyattam' book by Govardhan Panchal, Sangeet Natak Akademi Publication
Koothu
Koothu , means dance or performance in Tamil language, is a folk art originated from the early Tamil country. But more precisely Koothu refers Therukoothu that is street dance or street play since it will be performed village squares. At early age the art of entertainment reached its peak in...
, Nangiar koothu and Koodiyattam
Koodiyattam
Koodiyattam or Kutiyattam is a form of Sanskrit theatre traditionally performed in the state of Kerala, India. Performed in the Sanskrit language in Hindu temples, it is believed to be 2,000 years old...
, the ancient dramatic art forms of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India. Koothambalams are constructed according to the guide lines given in the chapter 2 of Nātyasāstra of Bharata Muni
Bharata Muni
Bharata was an ancient Indian musicologist who authored the Natya Shastra, a theoretical treatise on ancient Indian dramaturgy and histrionics, dated to between roughly 400 BC and 200 BC. Indian dance and music find their root in the Natyashastra...
. The hall is considered to be as sacred as the temple sanctum itself. It is constructed within the grounds of the Temple; more precisely within the pancaprakaras of the temple and is usually about 16m long and 12m broad with a square platform supported by pillars in the center.The whole area of the hall is divided in to two equal halves and one part is for performance (including stage, instruments, green room etc.) and other half for audience. During the performance, the stage is decorated with fruit-bearing plaintains, bunches of coconuts and fronds of the coconut palm. A para filled with rice is placed on the stage. A nilavilakku
Nilavilakku
Nilavilakku is a lighted bell metal traditional lamp used commonly in Kerala, South India. Nilam in the Malayalam language means ground and Vilakku means lamp. Nilam and vilakku have exactly the same meaning in the older cognate Tamil language. Nilavilakku is the symbol of Shiva LingaThe...
is used for lighting. The mizhavu
Mizhavu
A mizhav or mizhavu is a big copper drum played as an accompanying percussion instrument in the Koodiyattam and Koothu, performing arts of Kerala . It is played by the Ambalavasi Nambiar community.The drum is played only with hands...
, a percussion instrument for accompanying Koothu, is placed within a railed enclosure, with a high seat for the drummer( belonging to nampiar community).
Only men from the Chakyar
Chakyar
Chakyar is a Brahmin caste coming under the Ambalavasi community of Hindus in the Kerala state of South India. The women in this caste are called Illotammas....
community are allowed to perform Koothu and Koodiyattam inside the Koothambalam. The women of the Ambalavasi
Ambalavasi
Ambalavasi is a generic name for a collection of castes among Hindus in Kerala who render temple services.-Etymology:The term Ambalavasi is derived from two Malayalam words, being Ambalam and Vasi...
-Nambiar
Nambiar
-Communities:The name Nambiar applies to several Hindu communities from South India:-Kerala:*Nambiar - the Royal families and the subdivision within the Nair caste from the North Malabar region of Kerala....
caste (Nangyarammas), play Nangyar Koothu and the female characters of Koodiyattam. The traditional Ambalavasi- Nambiars play the mizhavu.
Famous temples with Koothambalams include the Sreekrishna Temple, Guruvayoor, Vadakkumnathan Temple, Trichur, Koodalmanikyam Temple, Irinjalakkuda, Siva Temple, Peruvanam, Trichur District, ree Mahadeva temple,Thiruvegappura], Thirumandhamkunnu Temple,[Angadippuram, Malappuram District, [Subrahmania temple, Harippad], [Thirumuzhikkulam Lakshamana Temple near Aluva], [Subrahmania temple, Kitangur], [Siva Temple, Chengngennur] etc. The Kerala Kalamandalam, Deemed University for Art and Culture, Cheruthuruthy, Thrischur District houses a beautiful Koothambalam. Another koothampalam at Vyloppilly Samskarika Nilayam, Trivandrum which is built recently is another example of the theatre structure built out of traditional context- ie., outside temple premises. All these are rectangular in plan. The plan, elevation and structure of these follow the shape grammar typical to the traditional Kerala architecture following the vastu rules prescribed in thantrasamuccayam and silparatnam, the authentic texts on temple vastu.
Other sources
- vendore,thrissur,kerala
.'Kuttampalam and Kutiyattam' book by Govardhan Panchal, Sangeet Natak Akademi Publication
See also
- Nātyakalpadruma
- NambiarNambiar-Communities:The name Nambiar applies to several Hindu communities from South India:-Kerala:*Nambiar - the Royal families and the subdivision within the Nair caste from the North Malabar region of Kerala....
- MizhavuMizhavuA mizhav or mizhavu is a big copper drum played as an accompanying percussion instrument in the Koodiyattam and Koothu, performing arts of Kerala . It is played by the Ambalavasi Nambiar community.The drum is played only with hands...
- Chakyar KoothuChakyar koothuChakyar Koothu is a performance art from Kerala, South India. It is primarily a type of highly refined monologue where the performer narrates episodes from Hindu epics and stories from the Puranas...
- KoodiyattamKoodiyattamKoodiyattam or Kutiyattam is a form of Sanskrit theatre traditionally performed in the state of Kerala, India. Performed in the Sanskrit language in Hindu temples, it is believed to be 2,000 years old...
- Nātyasāstra
- Mani Madhava ChakyarMani Madhava ChakyarGuru Mani Madhava Chakyar was a celebrated master performance artist and Sanskrit scholar from Kerala, South India, considered to be the greatest Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam artist and authority of modern times...
- Mani Damodara ChakyarMani Damodara ChakyarMani Damodara Chakyar is a renowned Kutiyattam and Chakyar Koothu artist in Kerala state of south India. He is a nephew and disciple of legendary guru Nātyāchārya Vidūshakaratnam Padma Shri Māni Mādhava Chākyār...
- [Kuttampalam and Kutiyattam'] book by Govardhan Panchal, Sangeet Natak Akademi Publication