There are two main types of Koothu: Vadamodi and Thenmodi. Vadamodi tends to depict myths from the Northern part of India such as the Hindhu epics Mahabaratha and Ramayana. The rhythms are fast, the costumes elaborate, and the themes usually tragic. Thenmodi is slower in rhythm, has intricate songs, showcases stories from Tamil Naadu with pleasant endings, and includes simple costumes.

Though it was popular in the 18th and 19th Centuries, Naatu Koothu has become a rarity of our times. Even though it originated in India, it is difficult to find performances there, even in rural villages. With the association of Koothu to the lower caste, and competition from pop culture for a place in society, the need to revive older art forms receives little attention. Instead, importance is given to art forms such as Bharatha Natyam and Carnatic music as they are associated with the highest caste. Despite all this in parts of Sri Lanka (Batticaloa, and parts of Jaffna and Mannar) there is a vibrant Koothu Culture.

So what makes Naatu Koothu more accessible and appreciated in Sri Lanka than India? It comes down to the integration of Folklore Arts into the education system. Be it a Tamil text book or a school festival, folklore arts are represented as part of Tamil heritage in Sri Lanka. At the University of Batticaloa there is a Faculty for Dramatic Arts in which they teach Koothu as part of the curriculum, and even promote it amongst Tamil youth.

When all is said and done, whether it’s Koothu or Karagattam, the stigmas of being unworthy or irrelevant need to be eliminated and media will have an important role in this. I am thankful to Vijay TV for creating a forum for discussion as a first step. As to next steps, they are really quite simple: learn more about this diverse heritage, and take the time to appreciate the wealth of culture we’ve inherited.

– Parthiban Manoharan

*This article was made possible by the support of Mr Arunthavanathan – Department Head and Lecturer, University of Jaffna & Naatu Koothu).
*Acknowledgement to Mr Arunthavanathan – Department Head and Lecturer, University of Jaffna & Naatu Koothu Performer for the pictures.