Kutiyattam is a part of India’s ancient Sanskrit theatre tradition and is therefore, the oldest among the country’s performing arts. The roots of this art form can be traced back to over 2000 years. It is also likely that it originated even before the Natya Shastra, the ancient treatise on Indian arts. Kutiyattam has substantially influenced all the Indian art forms that have subsequently emerged.
The Kutiyattam Kendra of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Thiruvananthapuram, inaugurated on 27th May 2007 by the then Governor of Kerala Mr. R. L. Bhatia, has been set up as a logical development of Akademi’s project ‘Support to Kutiyattam’ launched in 1990 – 91 for preservation and promotion of the classical Sanskrit Theatre of Kerala. The Project was designed as a total care programme by providing regular support to the handful of institutions and artists existing in the field, by way of funding, training, and regular performances, besides maintenance grant etc. and the Kutiyattam Kendra has been set up as a Centre for Kutiyattam, meant to provide support to the entire field of this classical Sanskrit Theatre.
The decade long support programme of the Akademi yielded substantial results when the UNESCO declared Kutiyattam as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001. The Kutiyattam institutions functioning under the Kutiyattam Kendra, like Margi, Ammannur Chachu Chakyar Smaraka Gurukulam, Mani Madhava Chakyar Smaraka Gurukulam, Pothiyil Gurukulam, Nepathya, Painkulam Rama Chakyar Smaraka Kalapeedom, Krishnan Nambiar Mizhavu Kalari, and Koppu Nirmanakendram (the only institution in Kerala engaged in the manufacturing of ornaments and headgears for Kutiyattam) are supported through several schemes like monthly Gurus and teachers, scholarship to students, annual maintenance grants, deputation and sponsorship for performances, etc., among others.
In addition the Kendra has instituted a monthly ‘Gurudakshina’ to veteran Gurus who have significantly contributed to sustain the tradition against all odds. The Kendra also conducts performances, workshops, interactive lecture demonstrations, etc. at frequent intervals to disseminate the art, with an increased focus on youngsters.
The Kutiyattam Kendra is organising performances at various places across Kerala. The programmes are scheduled in the month of January and they are, Chakyarkoothu by Kalamandalam Radhakrishnan & Troupe on 07 January at Venginissery, Thrissur; Kutiyattam (Thoranayudham – First day) by Pothiyil Gurukulam on 08 January at Wadakkanchery, Thrissur; Nangiarkoothu (Poothanamoksham) by Kalamandalam Sangeetha & Troupe on 10 January at Mannur, Palakkad; Nangiarkoothu (Akrooragamanam) by Usha Nangiar & Troupe on 14 January at Lakkidi, Palakkad; Kutiyattam (Subhadradhananjayam – Second day) by Guru Kalamandalam Rama Chakyar & Troupe on 18 January at Pathirippala, Palakad; Kutiyattam (Thoranayudham – Third day) by Kalamandalam Sangeet Chakyar & Troupe on 24 January at Neyyar, Thiruvananthapuram; Kutiyattam (Surpanakhangam) by Margi on 25 January at Malayinkeezhu, Thiruvananthapuram; Kutiyattam (Subhadradhananjayam – Second day) by Nepathya on 30 January at Mattannur, Kannur; and Nangiarkoothu (Kamsajananam) by Kalamandalam Shylaja & Troupe on 31 January at Payyannur, Kannur. Apart from these performances, the Kendra also organises lecture-demonstration and brief performance under the series ‘Dissemination of Kutiyattam’ among school children and teachers in all the 14 districts of Kerala in collaboration with the Dept. of Education, Govt. of Kerala and KPSTU Sargasahiti.
