TYPES OF FOLK ARTS IN TAMIL NADU

Performing arts were evolved in ancient times before people starts

communicating with each other. Arts which were performed is used
as a tool to connect with people showing how he/she dance, fight,
struggle, the movement of animals. So art plays as a communication
tool before the language. It shows and teaches the life of ancient
people to current generation. Types of traditional arts in tamil nadu
are in endangered now are

• Puliattam
• Oyilattam
• Therukoothu
• Bommalatattam
• Silambattam
• Kavadiattam
• Kolattam
• Mayilattam
• Karagattam
• Poi kal kudirai attam
• Kai salambattam
• Tappatam
• Thevarattam
• Paraiattam
 • THERUKOOTHU
Therukoothu is a tamil street theatre form
practised in tamil nadu. Therukoothu is a form of
entertainment, a ritual and a medium of social instruction.
Therukoothu plays are a combination of song, music, dance and
drama along with “clever stage tricks”. The musical
instruments used by the therukoothu musicians include
harmonium, drums and cymbals
An acting arena is marked at courtyard of a temple,
open ground or any other convenient site and people squat on
the three sides of the rectangular arena. Kattiyakaran is the
narrator of the drama.

• MAYILATTAM:

Mayilattam is an artistic and religious forms of dance performed

in the Hindu temples in reverence to Lord subramanya

Mayilattam performers wear costumes from head

to toe like peacock. Due to difficulties in practise and less amount of
wages for the dancers, the number of mayilattam performers is
decreasing. The artist shows the action and movement of peacock in
their performers which used as communication tool before the
evolution of language.
• SILAMBAM:

Silambam originally known as silambattam is astaff and

weapon based Indian martial art form performed in tamil nadu.
The kings and their soldiers learned this art for performing wars.

• PULIATTAM:

Puliattam is an old folk art dance of tamil nadu.

This dance form usually comprises a troupe performing the
movement of the majestic, predatory tigers.
Their bodies are painted by the painstaking efforts
to resemble an exact replica of a tiger. The artist shows the
action and movement of tiger which is used as a
communication tool before the evolution of language
• OYILATTAM :

Oyilattam is a folk dance with the origin in the Madurai

region. It was a traditionally a dance where a few men would
stand in a row with two kerchiefs perform rhythmic steps to
the musical accompanishment

• BOMMALATTAM :

Bommalattam is a puppet shows. Many different kinds

of puppet are used for this show – cloth, wood, leather etc.
They are manipulated through strings or wires

• DEVARATTAM :
Devarattam is a pure folk dance performed near
temples. Devarattam is a combination of ancient
“Muntherkuravai” and “Pintherkuravai” of ancient tamil kings.
It was performed in front of and at the chariot on the victorious
return of the king and his army from battlefield.
• KARAGATTAM :

Karagattam is an ancient folk dance of tamil nadu in praise

of rain goddess. The performers balance a pot on their head.
Traditionally, this dance is categorised into two types “Aatta
karakkam” symbolizes joy and happiness. It is mainly
performed as entertainment and “Sakthi karakkam” is
performed only in temples as a spiritual offering.

• KAVADIATTAM :
It ancient times people of tamil nadu during pilgrimage
carried the offering to the god tied on either end of a long stick,
which was balanced on a shoulders. In order to lesson the
boredom of the long travel they used to sing and dance about
about the gods. The dance is accompanied by workship of lord
Muruga

• KOLATTAM :
Kolattam is an ancient village art. This is mentioned in
Kanchipuram as “ Cheivaikiyar Kolattam” which proves its
antiquity. This is performed by women only with two sticks held
in each hand, beaten to make a rhythmic noise
• POI KAL KUDIRAI ATTAM :
Poi kal kudhiraiattam is a folk dance is a dummy
horse where the dancer bears the dummy figure of a horse’s
body on his/her hips. This is made of light weighted materials
and the cloth at the side swings to and fro covering the legs of
the dancer. This is connected to the workship of Iyyanar and
prevails mainly around Tanjavur

• PARAIATTAM :
Paraiattam is a special type of dance in tamil culture in
which folks beat parai and dance to its rhythm. This is one of
the oldest traditional dance. In olden days, Parai was used for
multiple reason ranging from warning people about the
upcoming war, requesting the civilians to leave the battlefield,
announcing victory or defeat, gathering farmer for forming
activities. Paraiattam has been an instrumental part of all
celebrations in tamil nadu

NEED FOR PERFORMING ARTS :

• Tamail nadu is rich in various art forms and each form is unique
and has its owm merits. The different phases of growth and
development of a society find their expression in art and
culture. They are also measures of cultural uniqueness and
accomplishments of linguistic and ethnic groups.
• The art forms like dance, music and drama evolved in ancient
times before people starts communicating with each other is
used as a tool to connect with people
• Tamil nadu was ruled by cheras, cholas, pandyas and pallavas
during 600 – 1300AD. At that times in temples and social
events, the different art forms were performed. The king used
 to honour the artist with grants and prizes. The invasion of
muslim in 1316 AD completely destroyed the power of the
cholas and Pandyas of the Muslim, the Hindus took the
initiative of building Vijayanagara empire. The empire
assembled the remaining chola rulers as well to confront the
Muslims. This Hindu empire could not survive for long as it has
to surrender to the hands of the sultans of deccan in the Battle
of Talikota. The vijayanagar empire was torchered and
destroyed by the sultans, with that magnificent heritage,
culture and social status and wealth of vijayanagara city and art
forms was started facing the decline at that time.
• After the sultan, the vijayanagara empire was ruled by nayakas
who encouraged the practices of art forms in temples and
other social functions. The kings used to honour the artists with
grants and prizes. Thus vijayanagara emipire developed art and
architecture at Tamil nadu during their rule.
• After British take over position in India. Britishers started
suppressing all art forms. It is not only suppressing that all
Indian martial arts forms and practise of warfare were
suppressed during British rule, as the british wanted to prevent
rebellion and did not want their colony to be strong. British
troops were well trained to use with explosive and guns, but
they were lacking the physical combat skills. This fear them to
improve restrictions on Indian martial arts. This include south
Indian martial arts like silambam, Kai silambam etc.
• Also Britishers accussed Devadasis as prostuites who
considered as Lord’s servant and performing dance form and
ordered not to perform dance forms in temples. This leads to
the decline of performing arts in british rule.
• After Independence, the Indian media industry found its way to
influence people on large scale and has to led to the
tremendous scope for growth in all segments
• Culture plays an important role in the development of any
nation. It represents a set of shared attitudes, value goods and
practices. Therefore the art forms like dance, music and drama
is as diverse as India symbolized by the identity of a particular
region. Now the situation is, art forms facing decline while the
current generation doesn’t have interest to know about it
which leads to the forgetting their own identity. Several
measures where taking for the revival of art forms

Current generation from the view of artist :

• Due to lack of interest from current generation there is

no encouragement towards art forms, the artist who
performs where longing for encouragement and to reach
their talent across the world. But due to no proper
platform, there is a lack of opportunity for the artist to
show their talent
• We are in 21 st century, as the original essence of the art
forms changes and adopted to current society ie
costumes and music which creates wrong impression
towards the artist.
• As the art teaches the ancient life of people and how to
lead a life through a visual way. Forgetting our identity
and attraction towards the western culture which leads
to downfall of art forms. To create and develop the
growth of art through architecture. The work of artist is a
powerful resource for community development,
education, protection of our common wealth and
democratic public purpose. There is a need to advocate
 complete integration of art based learning to the public.
The design is to studying, Analysing and experiencing the
art forms by creating a spaces for their performances,
community gathering, recreational spaces etc. There is a
need to develop the art forms and life of artist

SITE JUSTIFICATION :
• Chennai is popularly the “Gateway to the south India”.
Chennai culture is distinctly different from that of any other city
in india. Being a cosmopolitan city, the culture of the city
reflects its diverse population which has resulted in a unique
blend. Through a modern city, it continues to be traditional
music, dance, and all other art forms of tamil nadu are very
popular in the city

• Chennai serves as the capital of the Tamil nadu and 36th largest
urban area by population in the world

• Chennai city is one of the four meteropolitan cities in tamil

nadu which is easily connected from all over the country

• Chennai has many cultural tourist spots is a rich and famous

which attracts the arrival of foreigners

• Chennai has ranked 3rd in most visited foreigner city after

Mumbai and Delhi and ranked 43rd city all over the world

• Chennai is located between Thiruvallur and Kancheepuram

where both the district is rich in culture and heritage of Tamil
nadu
• There is already a proposal from ministry of art and culture to
develop art and culture in chennai

• The site is in ECR of 15.1 acres. The road serves as a

connectivity from other districts to Chennai
• ECR has many guest houses, and has many tourist spots .