Duffmuttu (also: Dubhmuttu) is an art form prevalent in the

Malabar region The Malabar Coast is the southwestern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Geographically, it comprises the wettest regions of southern India, as the Western Ghats intercept the moisture-laden monsoon rains, especially on their westward-facing ...

of the states of

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South Ca ...

and

Karnataka Karnataka (; ISO 15919, ISO: , , also known as Karunāḍu) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reor ...

south India South India, also known as Dakshina Bharata or Peninsular India, consists of the peninsular southern part of India. It encompasses the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, as well as the union terr ...

. It derives its name from the duff, a

percussion instrument A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Exc ...

made of wood and ox skin. The word duff is of

Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C. E.Watson; Walter ...

origin and is also called a ''thappitta''. Duffmuttu is performed as social entertainment and to commemorate festivals, ''uroos'' (festivals connected with

mosque A mosque (; from ar, مَسْجِد, masjid, ; literally "place of ritual prostration"), also called masjid, is a place of prayer for Muslims. Mosques are usually covered buildings, but can be any place where prayers ( sujud) are performed, ...

s) and weddings. Duffmuttu can be performed at any time of the day. A ''duffmuttu'' performance usually consists of ten members who stand or sit facing each other singing songs and swaying their bodies to the tempo of the song which is set by the rhythmic beats of the ''duff''. Duffmuttu perfomance by IUHSS Parappur

Duffmuttu songs are a tribute to

Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or '' Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the ...

ic heroes and martyrs. The lead player also leads the troupe in song while the others provide the chorus. The dancers drum the duff with their fingers or palms and while moving rhythmically often toss them over their heads. A closely related art form is the Aravana Muttu or Arabana Muttu that uses a drum called arabana that is similar to the duff.

Gallery

File:Duffmuttu IUHSS Parappur 01.jpg, Young Duffmuttu Artists File:Duffmuttu IUHSS Parappur 06.jpg, Duffmuttu Artists File:Duffmuttu20180219110544 25 1.jpg, Duffmuttu File:Duffmuttu IUHSS Parappur 04.jpg, Young Duffmuttu Artists from Kerala School Kalolsavam File:Dafmut IMG 1345.jpg, Traditional Duffmuttu

References

Dances of Kerala Kerala music Mappilas {{India-music-stub ml:ദഫ് മുട്ട്

Gallery

See also

References