Kattaikkuttu

Kattaikkuttu [கட்டைக்கூத்து] is a rural, Tamil-language based, physical and vocal form of ensemble theatre form practised in the State of Tamil Nadu in South India. It is a form of Kūttu (also spelled as Koothu), a theatre art that originated in early Tamilakam, though we are not sure what exactly the form and content of this theatre. The performers – by tradition only men – sing, act and dance and the musicians accompany them on the harmonium, the mridangam and dholak, and the mukavinai. The terms Terukkūttu [தெருக்கூத்து which translates as street theatre] and Kaṭṭaikkūttu are often used interchangeably. However, historically the two terms appear to have distinguished, at least in certain villages, between two different kinds of performance: while Terukkuttu referred to mobile performances by two actors participating in a procession for the village deity Mariamman, Kattaikkuttu denotes overnight, narrative performances at a fixed performance space acted by an ensemble of about fifteen actors and musicians.

==History== thumb|An Koothu performer's mask depicting a character, circa 1700–1750. Kattaikkuttu derives its name from the word kattai, which refers to the special ornaments worn by the actors during performances; kuttu refers to theatre. The audience recognizes the various characters by the shapes of their headwear and their make-up.