Aattakatha is a

literary genre A literary genre is a category of literature. Genres may be determined by literary technique, tone, content, or length (especially for fiction). They generally move from more abstract, encompassing classes, which are then further sub-divided i ...

Malayalam language Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was des ...

consisting of the

libretto A libretto (Italian for "booklet") is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to the t ...

used for the Indian classical dance drama ''

kathakali Kathakali ( ml, കഥകളി) is a major form of classical Indian dance. It is a "story play" genre of art, but one distinguished by the elaborately colourful make-up and costumes of the traditional male actor-dancers. It is native to the M ...

''. The word ''aatta-katha'' literally means "story for dancing and acting" (''atu'' "to dance" + ''kathā'' "story"). The narrative framework of ''aattakatha'' consists quatrains in

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

metres where the diction also is heavily Sanskritised; the dialogue part, however, is made up of ''padas'', which can be set to ''raga'' (tune) and ''tala'' (rhythm) and have to be rendered by means of gestures and body movements by the actors while being sung by musicians from behind. The origins of ''aattakatha'' literature dates back to the 12th century and it emerged as a literary genre in the 17th century. The earliest of the ''aattakatha''s is believed to be a cycle of eight ''

Ramayana The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...

'' stories (collectively known as ''

Ramanattam Ramanattam (Malayalam: രാമനാട്ടം, IAST: Rāmanāṭṭaṃ) is a temple art in Kerala, India. The dance drama presents the story of Rama in a series of eight plays and was created under the patronage of Veera Kerala Varma (AD 16 ...

''), composed by Kottarakkara Tampuran and about whose date there is an ongoing controversy. Next in importance are the works of Kottayathu Tampuran whose period is about the middle of the seventeenth century. Since the four ''aattakatha''s he wrote ''

Bakavadham {{More citations needed, date=March 2023 Bakavadham (The Slaying of Baka) is a Kathakali play( Aattakatha) written by Kottayam Thampuran (also known as Kottayathu Thampuran) in Malayalam.Based on the Mahabharatha, the play narrates the events surr ...

Kalyanasaugandhikam {{Use Indian English, date=December 2019 Kalyanasaugandhikam is a Kathakali play ( ''aattakatha'') attributed to Kottayathu Thampuran. Based on the Mahabharatha, the play narrates an episode from the life of the Pandava princes in exile. Bheema set ...

Kirmeeravadham Kirmeeravadham (The Slaying of Kirmeera) is a Kathakali play( Aattakatha) written by Kottayam Thampuran (also known as Kottayathu Thampuran) in Malayalam. Based on the Mahabharatha, the story concerns itself with events in the course of the fore ...

'' and ''

Kalakeyavadham Kalakeyavadham (The Slaying of Kalakeya) is a Kathakali play ( Aattakatha) written by Kottayam Thampuran (also known as Kottayathu Thampuran) in Malayalam.Based on the Mahabharatha, the play describes the events surrounding the Pandava prince Arju ...

'' punctiliously conform to the strict rules of ''kathakali'', they are particularly favoured by orthodox artistes and their patrons. Another poet of this category is

Irayimman Thampi Iravivarman Thampi, better known as Irayimman Thampi (1782 October 12 - 1856 July 29), was an Indian Carnatic musician, music composer and poet from the Kingdom of Travancore. He was a vocalist in the court of Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma, Swathi ...

(1783-1863).

Unnayi Variyar Unnayi Warrier was a poet, writer, scholar, and dramatist who lived in Kerala, India during the 17th/18th century. He is best known for his chef-d'oeuvre ''Nalacharitham'' aattakatha and is known to have made significant contributions to the ar ...

’s ''

Nalacharitham Nalacharitham is a Kathakali play ( Aattakatha) written by Unnayi Warrier. Based on the Mahabharatha, it tells the story of King Nalan and his consort Damayanthi. The play consists of four parts – called First, Second, Third and Fourth Day ...

Aattakatha'' is one of the most famous works in this genre. While Kathakali plays in their original form were designed to be performed over an entire night, over the years, they are performed in highly edited forms; often, only sections of the Aattakatha are performed, with non textual improvisations added.

List of Attakathas

Over the years, a large number of Attakathas have been penned. A list of some popular attakathas is given below: *

Seethaswayamvaram {{Use Indian English, date=December 2019 Seethaswayamvaram (Seetha's Wedding) is a Kathakali play ( Aattakatha) authored by Kottarakara Thampuran in Malayalam. Based on the Ramayana The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is ...

*Balivadham *

Thoranayudham {{Use Indian English, date=December 2019 Thoranayudham (The Battle at the Entrance) is a Kathakali play ( Aattakatha) authored by Kottarakara Thampuran in Malayalam. Based on the Ramayana The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ...

* Keechakavadham * Uttaraswayamvaram * Dakshayagam *

Narakasuravadham Narakasuravadham (The Slaying of Narakasura) is an Aattakatha (Kathakali play) authored by Dharma Raja in Malayalam. Based on the Bhagavatam, it narrates the tale of the rise to power of the demon king Narakasura. Narakasura sends his servant, ...

* Poothanamoksham *

Banayudham Banayudham (Bana's Battle) is an Aattakatha (Kathakali play) written by Balakavi Rama Shasthri. It used to be a popular play in the southern (thekkan) style of Kathakali. The Asura king Bana, son of Mahabali Mahabali (IAST: Mahābalī), also ...

*Kamsavadham *

Balivijayam {{notability, date=August 2021 Balivijayam (Bali's victory) is an Aattakatha (Kathakali play) penned by Kalloor Nampoothiripadu. It tells the story of how the vanara king Bali, avenges the insult done to his father Indra. Indra had been captured b ...

*Ravanavijayam *

Ravanolbhavam Ravanolbhavam (The Origin of Ravana) is a Kathakali play( Aattakatha) authored by Kallekulangara Raghava Pisharodi in Malayalam. Based on the Ramayana, it narrates the story surrounding the origin of Ravana and his rise to power following his p ...

*Rugmangadacharitham *

Santhanagopalam ''Santhanagopalam'' is a 1994 Malayalam film, starring Thilakan, Jagadheesh, Balachandra Menon, and Kaviyoor Ponnamma in the lead roles. Thilakan won the 1994 Kerala State Film Award for Best Actor for his roles in ''Gamanam'' and this film. It ...

* Subhadraharanam *Ambareeshacharitham *Karthyaveerarjunavijayam *Kiratham *Duryodhanavadham *Rajasooyam *Rugmineeswayamvaram * Lavanasuravadham *

Karnasapatham {{notability, date=August 2021 Karnasapatham (The Oath of Karna) is an Aattakatha (Kathakali play) written by Mali Madhavan Nair. It is one of the most popular Kathakali plays, having been performed at over 5000 venues during the playwright's lif ...

References

* Vellinezhi Achuthankutty (2013), Kathakalppadangal, Thiranottam

List of Attakathas

References

Further reading