Nangiǎr Kūthu

Traditional Nangiǎr Kūthu performance. Artist: P.K. Sandhya (disciple and granddaughter of Padma Shri Guru Māni Mādhava Chākyār)

Nangiǎr Kūthu or Nangyar Koothu is an allied traditional art of Kutiyattam, an age-old Sanskrit drama tradition of India. It is performed traditionally by the women of the Ambalavasi Nambiar community of Kerala, known as Nangyaramma, but has transcended the caste barrier since the second half of the 20th century.

Nangiarkoothu, an offshoot of Kutiyattam, is a solo performance with an antiquity of 1500 years. It is the sole domain of female artistes. The stories for the performance are taken from the text Sree Krishna Charitam, depicting the life of Lord Krishna. During the performance the actress presents the longwinded stories of Lord Krishna through hand gestures, facial expressions, and body movements to the accompaniment of the resonant pot drum mizhavu.

References

• Chākyār, Māni Mādhava. Nātyakalpadrumam, Sangeet Natak Academi, New Delhi, 1975
• Margi Sathi,."Sree Rama Charitham Nangiarammakuthu", D.C.Books, Kottayam,1999
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See also

• Kutiyattam
• Chakyar Koothu
• Mani Madhava Chakyar

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