Tholpaavakoothu Sangam on their upcoming show in Kochi

Ritualistic in nature, this routine is generally seen in the bhagavati (mother goddess) temples of Northern Kerala.
Tholpavakoothu
Tholpavakoothu

300 puppets. Nine artistes and 90 minutes. This is what we’re told by Vipin Viswanatha Pulavar (a 15th-generation puppetry artiste from the Palakkad-based Tholpavakoothu Sangam) when we ask him for a sneak peek of his upcoming show at JTpac.Considered to have originated in the ninth century AD, this struggling art form is trying to break out of its traditional constraints by integrating contemporary aspects into its age-old recital practices based on Kamba Ramayana.“The original version of the performance, centred on Ramayana, for instance, lasts for over 21 days,” begins the 25-year-old, elaborating that the hour-long events are adopted as a way of spreading awareness about the art form. Ritualistic in nature, this routine is generally seen in the bhagavati (mother goddess) temples of Northern Kerala.

In the shadows  
“We use a large white cloth as the background/screen, which is illuminated by wick lamps made of coconut shells. The puppets—highest of which could measure up to 80 cm—are animated behind the screen as we recite the koothu text,” explains Vipin’s father, K Viswanatha Pulavar, who will be leading the performance in Kochi. Handmade with oxen skin, the process of creating these puppets could take anywhere between three to 14 days. As for background music, ezhu para, a double-sided drum made of jackfruit wood, and ilathalam (cymbals) are commonly used. “While familiarising ourselves with the nuances of the recitals, we’re also taught about the specifics of puppet -making and the art of handling them,”shares  state award winning artiste Viswanatha, commenting on the training involved in 
becoming a seasoned puppetry artiste. 

Tracing tradition  
Though the duo admits that the art form has been modified to bring in references to the current 
scenarios, by using Ramayana and Ram Rajya concept to comment on modern socio-political situations, their act still uses a mix of Tamil, Malayalam and Sanskrit. “Over the years, we’ve been trying to trace the history of koothu through our research centre. Apart from the discovery of 30 ancient households who were part of the tradition, we have also found out that the spread of Buddhism played a pivotal role in taking this form across East Asia about 2,000 years back,” Vipin signs off. 

On June 9 from 7 pm . 
At JTPAC.Tickets `300 onwards

 

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