Silambattam

Silambattam is a traditional art form of Tamil Nadu. It is also known as Kazhi vesuthal, silambam kattutal, Kuchi vilaiattu, Kabmu Vilayattu etc. Silambattam is performed during folk religius festivals and other social festivals in Tamil Nadu. Traditionally cane sticks are used for silambatam however weapons like Sward, knife etc are also used in silambattam.

Tudumbattam

This is performed by Tudumbar - a tribal community domiciled at Pollachi and coimbatore region in Tamil Nadu. Tudumbu- a musical instrument is accompanied with Chatti, Jalra, Vuruttu etc. are used in this performance. Traditioanlly they perform this misic in order to protect themselves form the wild animals.

Jikkattam

This art form is traditionally known as Jakku adi and primarily it is a musical form. In a course of time dance is also performed according to the music. There are several kinds of dance forms in Jikkatam. They are Themangu, Oyilattam, Kavadiattam and Disco. Generally eight men perform dance and sixteen men are perform music. Jikkattam is traditionally performed at Pollachi and Coimbatore region during temple celebrations and life cycle ceremonies.

Dolu Kunitha

Dolu Kunitha is a popular folk art form of southern Karnataka. In Kannada Dolu refers a drum and Kunitha refers dance. This art form is performed at temple and marriage festivals.

Toda dance

Toda a tribal community domiciled at Nilgiris region performed a dance in their marriage and other life cycle ceremonies. Generally they don’t use any musical instrument in their performance.

ChendaMelam

Chendamelam is a percussion instrument traditionally performed by a scheduled caste community in Kerela. A team of men folk performs this. The performers hold the musical instruments in their shoulder and play the drums with sticks. Generally Chendamelam is performed at religious festivals to invoke the spirit of the deities. Singara melam is a part of Chenda melam. Dance according to the Chenda music along with some other musical instrument like is known as Singara melam.

Paavaikoothu

Paavai koothu is performed by Mandigar- a Marati speaking community in Tamil Nadu. Paavaikoothu is performed not only in Tamil Nadu but also in other southern states of India. Generally a team of performers performs Paavai koothu. Puppets made of leather are used to perform this Koothu. A place in which three sides are covered with coconut leaves or gunny bags or walls and a white screen fixed in the front side is the space for paavai koothu performance. A bright light is fixed inside the room. The chief performer sit inside the room and he operates the Puppets behind the white screen with his hands and simultaneously give voice in different tones according to the character. Adjacent to the stage the musicians and assistant singers are placed. Audiences sit in front of the screen and enjoy the show. Ramayana, Mahabaratha and other myths are the themes of Paavaikoothu. In those days paavaikoothu artists travel several villages to perform their show.

Karagaattam

This is one of the showpieces of rural art, peculiar to Tamilnadu. Young women dance several variations to the music Naiyandi melam. The special feature of this art is that the dancer balances a painted pot on her head while performing a variety of specific foot movements in toe with the music and its rhythm. Karagattam is also known as Karaga chembu and Kumbattam It’s performed as an entertainment in temple celebrations. Generally as a part of Karagattam Mylattam, Puliattam Karadiattam, Maadattam are performed. The performers costumed as Peacock, Bear, Tiger and Cow and dance to the music of Nayandi Melam. These are a joyous dance form. The Artists mimic the movements and those birds and animals and dance to the music. How ever in certain places these forms are performed separately.

Nayandi melam

A team of men folk performs this. Nayandi melam is a musical form consists of a reed pipe, thavil, pampai and urumi and percussion instruments. It’s performed in rural religious celebrations and rituals and celebrations. It provide ideal accompaniment to folk forms like Karagaatam, Kavadiattam, Kuravan Kurathi attam , Poi kaal kutharai attam etc.

Kaavadi attam

With the kaavadi- an artistic semi circular canopy resting on three-foot cylindrical base- on their shoulders, devotees of lord Murugan undertake ritual pilgrimages to the hills where his temples are. The performer twists and turns the kaavadi in animated equilibrium. This is accompanied with Nayandi meelam.

Kazhial aatam

Kazhi refers a stick. A dance accompanied with sticks is known as Kazhilattam. Kazhil attam is also known as Kazhal, Kalaladi.In Malayalam it is known as Kol kazhi, Koladi, Kambu Kazhi etc.Kazhial attam is performed at Tirunalveli, Kanyakumari and Tuticorin regions in Tamil Nadu.

Therukoothu

Theru koothu is the combination of literature, music and theatre. It is considered as the powerful theatre tradition of Tamil Nadu. This is performed in South Arcot, North Arcot, Chengalpattu, Thiruvanamalai and Vilupuram districts in Tamilnadu. Therukoothu is not only aesthetically sophisticated but also has a significant position in socio religious practices of the villages. Performance in the Theru koothu is considered as an act of devotion to the local village deity to which it is traditionally linked. There are two kinds of Therukoothu. They are Therkathi paani (Southern Method) Vadakathi paani (Northern Method). Therkathi paani is performd at Puducheri region and Vadakathi paani is performed at Chengalpattu and North Arocot region. Dolak, Jalra, Armoniam are the musical instruments that are used in Therukoothu. Generally therukoothu performers perform the myth of Ramayanam, Mahabaratham.

Poikal kuthirai attam

It is a folk art form of TamilNadu. This art form is known as poikal koothu or puraviyattam. This art flourished under the patronage of Thanjavor king and is said that this have been first performed by Maratta artistes. A dummy horse prepared out of cardboard and bamboo sticks and wooden sticks are used by artists to produce the sound effects of hooves. The horses are decorated in the Thanjavur style with mirrors and other embellishments.

Marakkalattam

Two wooden poles are tied with the bottom of the legs and danced is known as Marakalaatam. It is performed as an entertainment. The performers danced to the music Nayandi Melam. The length of the wooden pole is approximately 130 cm. These poles are very strong and it has a special structure by which the performer fixes these poles comfortably at his legs. Thomparayer community performs this dance and it is believed that this dance is danced by Thirumangai Aalwar Kannan.

Kummiattam

Kummiattam is a folk art form of Tamil Nadu. Kummy refers the dance while clapping hands to a rhythm, accompanied by songs in popular tunes. Generally women form a circle and dance during folk religious festivals and life cycle ceremonies especially during marriage and puberty rituals.

Jimpla Melam

Jimpla is a percussion instrument. It is also known as Cimpla melam, cimpla kottu and erudhu kottu melam. This is like a Thavil but short in appearance. One side of the drum is played by hand and a stick plays another side. This instrument is accompanied by the kattai kuzhal. This is also known as Kattai nayanam or satthu Kuzhal. Jimpla melam during folk religious festivals and life cycle ceremonies especially on funeral rites at Ramanathapuram region.

Kalaripayitu

The word Kalari derived from the Sanskrit word Khaloorke, a military training ground. Sward, knofe, Maan kombu, Kanda kodali, Mazhu etc are the weapons that are used in Kalari. There are two kinds of Kalari. They are Vadakan Kalari (Northern method) and Thekkan Kalari (Southern Method). Kalari is existeing at Kanyakumari region and Kerala. The Kalari performers worship the God, weapons, Guru and the ground in the beginning of every performance.

Kaniyan koothu

A ritual folk performance, performed by the men folk of Kaniyan community is known as Kaniyan koothu. Kaniyan koothu is performed by a team of Kaniyan normally consists of six members. This includes a lead singer, an assistant singer, two drummers, and two dancers costumed as women. Kaniyan koothu is closely associated with Sudalai worship in southern region of Tamil Nadu. Kaniyan koothu is performed to invoke the spirit of Sudalai during Kodai- a annual celebration. In koothu performance the performers sung and narrate the origin myth of Sudalai together with music and dance. The name of the musical instrument is called Makudam and this performance is also known as Makudatam. Lead singer is the leader of Kaniyan koothu performance. He sings and narrates the myth of Sudalai. These lead singers are known as annavi. While singing the myth in high pitch the komarathadi gets possessed by the spirit and danced vehemently. In Kaniyan koothu performance two men folk perform the drum that is called Makudam. This drum is a small circular one headed drum hung from the shoulder and tapped with fingers. There are two types of Makudam based on the sound of the drum. They are vucha makudam (high pitch drum) and mantha makudam (low pitch drum) . Both the drums are used in Kaniyan koothu. These two drummers stand adjacent to the lead singer and perform. Two men dancers costumed as women danced. These performers dance according to the song and music.

Periamelam

A big percussion instrument is used in this performance, therefore it is known as Periamelam. A team of men folk performs Periamelam. Thamuru, Chatti, Thamuku, Jalra are the other musical instruments accompanied in this performance. There are ten paagams in periamelam performance. In first pagam they introduce all the varieties; second paagam is performed at social functions; third paagam is performed marriage rituals; fourth paagam is performed during the rituals at Gangai amman worship; fifth paagam is performed for cine songs; sixth paagam is performed during rituals at Mariamman worshipping rituals; seventh paagam is performed during Pongal celebration; eight paagam is performed for Puliattam and ninth Paagam is performed during festivals. This art form is traditionally performed in the northern regions of Tamil Nadu.

Sakaikuchi attam

A team of men folk performed this art form. Small wooden pieces and wooden sticks are used in this performance. The wooden pieces are known as Sakai and the sticks are known as Kuchi. Therefore the dance is known as sakaikuchi attam. Small Bamboo sticks are also used in this performance. This is performed during Mariamman and Murugan temple celebrations in Tiruchy and Tanjoore region

Thapattam

‘Thappu’ is a small circular one headed drum hung from the shoulder and performed with two small sticks known as chimbu kuchi and adikuchi. Thappu is performed to produce different kinds of music that convey specific meaning depending upon the context. There are different kinds of music in Thappattam. They are known as chaparathadi, dappa adi, Paadam adi, cinema adi, marul adi, maradithal adi etc. Thappattam is a traditional occupation of certain communities domiciled in the districts of Madurai, Dindigul, and Thanjavur regions in Tamilnadu. Thappattam plays an important role in all the life cycle ceremonies of these people.

Villu paatu

Villu paatu is closely associated with the folk religious practices of Southern Tamil Nadu. Both men and women folk from various communities performs Villu paatu. The lead singer sings and narrate the respective myth of the deity along with musical instruments like Kattai, Jalra and Uduku. The main function of Villu paatu performance is to invoke the spirit of the deity. The performers sit semi circle in front of the bow. The length of the bow is around seven feet and its middle portion is bent. This is called Villu i.e. Bow . The lead singer commences Villu paatu. He offers Pooja to all the musical instruments. He holds a small rod in his hands while singing. He gives rhythmic taps to the strings attached to the bow to produce music. Generally villupaatu is performed through out the night during the annual folk religious festival.

Deverattam

Devarattam is performed by the men folk of Kambalathu Naicker domiciled Tuticorin and Virudhunagar regions. Deverattam is accompanied with a musical instrument that is known as Deva Thunthubi. There are thirty-two rhythmic steps in Devarattam. These steps are known as adavu. In the beginning of Devarattam all the dance performers worship the musical instrument and the musical performer and then they begin to perform. Similarly they do in the end of the performance also. Devarattam is performed in all the life cycle ceremonies and religious celebrations of Kambalathu Naicker community. It’s a traditional rule that every man from Kambalathu Naicker should know Deverattam. Some years ago Devarattam is performed as a ritual among this community only. How ever now a day it’s also performed as an entertainment in several socio cultural functions.

Kokkali Kattai attam

This is a folk art form performed on slits. The performers wear tall props resemble of legs of egret, the dance has been named after the bird. It is a group performance accompanied with percussion instruments like Dholak, thappu and chatti. The dancers wear multi colour bands on their waists and a toy parrot perches secure on their shoulders. It is endemic in such regions adjoining Vellore and Wallahagapet and performed only on temple fests. Generally devotees perform this in temples in order to fulfill their vow. Today this art form now gained a wider audience with growing demand for it even in a secular audience.

Oyilattam

Oyil refers grace and the attam refers dance. Therefore Oyilattam is the dance of graceful gestures. A group of men and women of the villages performs Oyilattam in the open air at southern regions of Tamil Nadu perform it. The dancers dress uniformly. Generally the performers wear colorful dhoti and hold a ribbon at their hands. This is a linear type of dance in which 12-20 persons stand in row and perform dance to the rhythmic music with forward movements, swinging their hands forward and backward coupled with intricate foot movements.