Koodiyattom

Koodiyattom is believed to have been originated around 2 million years ago and relates to Sanskrit theatre of Kerala. The name Koodiyattam means "playing together" and it suggests a combined performance of Chakyar and Nangyar. The play in Sanskrit introduces Chakyars in the male roles and Nangyars in the female roles. The Vidushaka (clown) recites Malayalam version of the Sanskrit. The performance of Koodiyattom was codified through detailed stage manuals known as Attaprakarams and Kramadeepikas. The performers’ action based on these choreographic texts includes all the organisational, theatrics and logistic aspects of Koodiyattom. The plays in Koodiyattom have bare minimum text giving room for the actor to improvise and elaborate imaginatively. It is believed that Kulasekhara Varman Cheraman Perumal, an ancient king of Kerala, who ruled from Mahodayapuram which is now Kodungallur reformed Koodiyattam, introducing the local language for Vidusaka and structuring presentation of the play to well defined units. He himself wrote two plays, Subhadraharana and Tapatisamvarana and made arrangements for their presentation on stage with the help of a Brahmin friend of him called Tolan. Traditionally, the main musical instruments used in Koodiyattam are Mizhavu, Kuzhitalam, Etakka, Kurumkuzhal and Sankhu. Mizhavu, the most prominent of these is a percussion instrument which is played accompanied by Nangyaramma playing the kuzhithalam which is a type of cymbal.