Koothu
Encyclopedia
Koothu means dance or performance in Tamil
language, is a folk art originated from the early Tamil country. But more precisely Koothu refers Therukoothu (Tamil
:தெருக்கூத்து) 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 Tamil country. Mentioned in the Sangam
literatures about the development of iyal (literature), isai (music) and natagam (drama). More than entertainment therukoothu educates the rural people about religion and their history.
Koothu is an informal dance structure, the performances generally depict scenes from ancient epics like Ramayana, Mahabharatha and Tamil
classical epics. There will be no dialogues instead only songs. Artists are trained to sing in their own voice and in a high pitch to reach entire crowd, since no technology available that time. The artists dressed up with complex heavy costumes and have a very bright elaborated makeup. They put on high towering head dress, sparkling shoulder plates and wide colorful skirts. Usually the whole trope will be played by males, even female characters also be performed by males.
Types of koothu includes Nattu Koothu, Kuravai Koothu, Valli Koorhu which are of about the state and culture of different peoples in Tamil country, Samaya Koothu showcasing religious topics, Porkaala Koothu, Pei Koothu, Thunangai Koothu about martial arts and war of the country.
In early stage there was no proper institution or nattuvanar (teacher) for koothu. Now to encourage the dying art there are some workshops for koothu called koothu pattarai.
It is very popular among the rural areas and through ages it stand without any modern trace. But got spread out into most of south India, the early Tamil country now the modern day Karnatakka, Kerala.
Avatharan a Tamil movie which well portrays about the art.
The deity at the Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram is known from the Sangam period as "Thillai Koothan", the cosmic dancer of Thillai; the Sanskrit translation of this is Nataraja
.
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
language, is a folk art originated from the early Tamil country. But more precisely Koothu refers Therukoothu (Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
:தெருக்கூத்து) 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 Tamil country. Mentioned in the Sangam
Sangam
The Tamil Sangams were assemblies of Tamil scholars and poets that, according to traditional Tamil accounts, occurred in the remote past. Three assemblies are described...
literatures about the development of iyal (literature), isai (music) and natagam (drama). More than entertainment therukoothu educates the rural people about religion and their history.
Koothu is an informal dance structure, the performances generally depict scenes from ancient epics like Ramayana, Mahabharatha and Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
classical epics. There will be no dialogues instead only songs. Artists are trained to sing in their own voice and in a high pitch to reach entire crowd, since no technology available that time. The artists dressed up with complex heavy costumes and have a very bright elaborated makeup. They put on high towering head dress, sparkling shoulder plates and wide colorful skirts. Usually the whole trope will be played by males, even female characters also be performed by males.
Types of koothu includes Nattu Koothu, Kuravai Koothu, Valli Koorhu which are of about the state and culture of different peoples in Tamil country, Samaya Koothu showcasing religious topics, Porkaala Koothu, Pei Koothu, Thunangai Koothu about martial arts and war of the country.
In early stage there was no proper institution or nattuvanar (teacher) for koothu. Now to encourage the dying art there are some workshops for koothu called koothu pattarai.
It is very popular among the rural areas and through ages it stand without any modern trace. But got spread out into most of south India, the early Tamil country now the modern day Karnatakka, Kerala.
Avatharan a Tamil movie which well portrays about the art.
The deity at the Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram is known from the Sangam period as "Thillai Koothan", the cosmic dancer of Thillai; the Sanskrit translation of this is Nataraja
Nataraja
Nataraja or Nataraj , The Lord of Dance; Tamil: கூத்தன் ;Telugu:నటరాజ is a depiction of the Hindu god Shiva as the cosmic dancer Koothan who performs his divine dance to destroy a weary universe and make preparations for god Brahma to start the process of creation...
.
External links
- watch all thenmodi koothu online - http://kalaikurusil.com
- TheruKoothu
- Anlother sample of TheruKootu
- A National Award Winning Short film Theru Koothu
- Another sample