Kūṭiyāṭṭam

Introduction

Kūṭiyāṭṭam is a Sanskrit theater believed to have originated in its present form in the eleventh century [3]. The dance-drama form is prevalent in the State of Kerala. It is a multi-actor performance usually performed in temples. The term Kūṭiyāṭṭam is from the words “kuti” meaning “together; combined” and “attam” meaning “dance; acting”– multiple-actor dancing. The art form has its origin from two different traditions, the Kutu tradition in the ancient Tamil literature and the Sanskrit drama [7]. It is believed that the art form has a history of about thousand years [7]. In 2001, Kūṭiyāṭṭam was declared as the “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO [2]. The art form employs a histrionic style of elaborate acting of the hero and the other characters [2]. The vidushaka (the comic commentator and the trusted friend of the hero) narrates the story of the composition on the stage, and the performance follows his narration. The vidushaka...