Performed in the Sanskrit language or an early form of Prakrit, it is believed to be at least two thousand years old, making it the oldest living theater tradition in the world. Koodiyattam blends ritual, sacred traditional precepts, and rehearsed elements with creative improvisation. Complicated gesture language, chanting, and exaggerated expressions of the face and eyes are complemented by elaborate headdresses and makeup. Until the 1950s, Koodiyattam was performed only by men of the Chakyar caste and women of the Ambalavasi Nambiar caste in sacred theaters, called Koothambalam, on the grounds of the Hindu temples of Kerala. Concerned about preserving the tradition, Koodiyattam master Mani Madhava Chakyar began staging performances outside the temple in 1955. Mani Madhava Chakyar’s troupe performed all over India and helped to popularize the art form. In 2001, Koodiyattam was officially recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
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