Mani Madhava Chakyar performing Chakyar koothu

Koothu, also called Chakyar Koothu is a type of performing arts from Kerala, south India. It is a kind of mono act. It is the traditional equivalent of a stand-up comic act. However, unlike the stand-up comics, the performer has a wider leeway in that he can heckle the audience. Mani Madhava Chakyar ( 1899 - 1990 ) Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar ( 15 February 1899 - 14 January 1990) was a performance artist and Sanskrit scholar from Kerala, South India, considered to be the greatest Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam artist and authority of modern times. ... Kerala ((?); Malayalam: കേരളം — ) is a state on the tropical Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ... A map of South India, its rivers, regions and water bodies. ... Richard Pryor hits the money line A stand-up comedian or stand-up comic is someone that performs in comedy clubs, usually reciting a fast paced succession of amusing stories, short jokes and one-liners, typically called a monologue. ...

"Koothu" means dance - which is a misnomer, since there is minimal choreography involved in the art form; facial expressions are important, though. Traditionally, it was performed inside a Hindu temple and the performer begins with a prayer to the deity of the temple. (S)He then goes on to narrate a verse in Sanskrit before explaining it in the vernacular Malayalam. The narration that follows touches upon various current events and societal factors with great wit and humor. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Sanskrit ( संस्कृतम् ; pronunciation: ) is an Indo-European classical language of India and a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. ... Malayalam (മലയാളം) is the major language of the state of Kerala, in southern India. ...

Koothu was traditionally performed by the Chakyar community. The women (Nangyars) also used to perform it (then it is called Nangyar Koothu). Only two instruments accompany the performance - a mizhav and a pair of cymbals. Chakyar is a caste from Kerala state of south India. ... It is also possible that you want to know about the Cymbalum instrument. ...

Chakyar Koothu was performed only in Koothambalams of Hindu temples, it was visionary Natyacharya Vidushakaratnam Padmasree Mani Madhava Chakyar ( who was the greatest Koothu and Kudiyattam artist ) brought Koothu and Kudiyattam outside temples by performing it outside for common people. He is considered as the greatest Koothu and Kutiyattam artist of modern times.
When Mani Madhava Chakyar's guru, His Highness Darsanakalanidhi Rama Varma Parikshith Thampuran wrote a new Sanskrit champu prabandha called Prahlādacharita and requested some senior artists to study and perform the same on the Chakyar koothu stage, they said it was impossible for them to stage such a new prabandha. Then the guru asked Mani Madhava Chakyar, who was then a comparatively young artist, to try. He agreed and studied a part of the prabandha within one night and performed the same on next day itself at Tripunithura - the then capital of Kochi state! The incident made great scholars to accept his mastery over both Sanskrit and the classical art form. After some months, he performed entire Prahlādacharita at the same stage. Koothambalam is a theater hall for staging kuttu, an ancient dramatic form of art famous in Kerala, South India. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Akshardham Hindu temple (mandir), Delhi, India, 2005 The Ecclesia, the Rosicrucian healing temple, Oceanside, California, United States, 1920 The Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2003 St. ... Mani Madhava Chakyar ( 1899 - 1990 ) Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar ( 15 February 1899 - 14 January 1990) was a performance artist and Sanskrit scholar from Kerala, South India, considered to be the greatest Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam artist and authority of modern times. ... Mani Madhava Chakyar ( 1899 - 1990 ) Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar ( 15 February 1899 - 14 January 1990) was a performance artist and Sanskrit scholar from Kerala, South India, considered to be the greatest Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam artist and authority of modern times. ... Sanskrit ( संस्कृतम् ; pronunciation: ) is an Indo-European classical language of India and a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. ... Mani Madhava Chakyar ( 1899 - 1990 ) Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar ( 15 February 1899 - 14 January 1990) was a performance artist and Sanskrit scholar from Kerala, South India, considered to be the greatest Chakyar Koothu and Koodiyattam artist and authority of modern times. ... Thrippunithura is a satellite town south-east of Ernakulam Cochin City. ... Kochi (Malayalam: കൊച്ചി []), formerly known as Cochin, is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. ... Sanskrit ( संस्कृतम् ; pronunciation: ) is an Indo-European classical language of India and a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. ...

See also

• Ottamthullal
• Kathakali
• Mohiniyattam
• Koodiyattam
• Panchavadyam
• Kerala Kalamandalam

Kathakali Kathakali is a form of Indian dance-drama. ... Mohiniaattam (മൊഹിനിയാട്ടം) (also spelled as mohiniattam or mohiniyattam) is a traditional South Indian dance form from Kerala, India. ... Koodiyattam Koodiyattam is a traditional performing artform from Kerala, India. ... Panchavadyam is a classic performance of different musical instruments that are unique to Kerala state of India, where five instruments are involved in a breathtaking-fastmoving act of percussion (Pancha in Sanskrit means five). ... Kerala Kalamandalam is a major center for learning Indian Performing Arts especially those that developed in the South Indian state of Kerala. ...

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