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 ...

in Malayalam language consisting of the libretto 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 , ; nominalization, nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cul ...

metres where the diction also is heavily

Sanskritised Sanskritisation (or Sanskritization) is a term in sociology which refers to the process by which castes or tribes placed lower in the caste hierarchy seek 'upward' mobility by emulating the rituals and practices of the dominant castes or upper ...

; 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 epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th to 4th centuries BCE, and later stages e ...

'' stories (collectively known as '' Ramanattam''), 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, Kalyanasaugandhikam, Kirmeeravadham'' and '' Kalakeyavadham'' 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. His compositions i ...

(1783-1863). Unnayi Variyar’s '' Nalacharitham 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 *Balivadham * Thoranayudham * Kirmeeravadham * Bakavadham * Kalyanasaugandhikam * Kalakeyavadham * Keechakavadham * Uttaraswayamvaram *

Dakshayagam {{Use Indian English, date=December 2019 Dakshayagam (The Fire-Sacrifice of Daksha) is a Kathakali play ( Aattakatha) authored by Irayimman Thampi in Malayalam. Based on the Skanda Purana, it narrates the story of Daksha, son of Brahma, and his da ...

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 servan ...

* Poothanamoksham *

Banayudham Banayudham (Bana's Battle) is an Aattakatha (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 t ...

*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 (; Sanskrit: � ...

*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 pe ...

* Nalacharitham *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 {{Use dmy dates, date=July 2019 Subhadraharanam (The Abduction of Subhadra) is a Kathakali play ( Aattakatha) authored by Manthredathu Nambudiripad in Malayalam. Based on the Mahabharata, it narrates the episodes surrounding Subhadra's elopement a ...

*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 life ...

References

* Vellinezhi Achuthankutty (2013), Kathakalppadangal, Thiranottam

List of Attakathas

References

Further reading