Kutiyattam, the classical theater form of Kerala is second to none in terms of its antiquity. It claims to date back to 2000 years of antiquity and is the enactment of Sanskrit plays and is India's oldest theatre to have been continuously performed.
King Kulashekhara Varman reformed the Kutiyattam in the tenth century A.D., and this form continues the tradition of performing in Sanskrit. The Prakrit language and Malayalam in its ancient form have also been kept alive through this medium. The repertory includes plays written by Bhasa, Harsha and Mahendra Vikrama Pallava..
Traditionally, the actors have been members of the Chakyar caste and it is the dedication of this group that is responsible for the preservation of Kutiyattam through the centuries. Nambiars, a sub-caste of drummers, have been associated with this theatre as players of the mizhavu (a pot-shaped, large drum unique to Kutiyattam). It is the women of the Nambiar community who act the female characterizations and play the bell-metal cymbals. While individuals of other communities do study this theatre and participate in stage performances, they do not perform in temples.
Performances usually last several days, the first few being devoted to introductions - of the characters and incidents from their lives. The complete performance - from beginning to end - is performed on the last day. However, it does not necessarily mean that the entire written text of the play will be enacted. An evening of Kutiyattam begins at 9 p.m. after the close of rituals in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, and continues till midnight, sometimes till 3 am, before the commencement of the morning rituals.
Complicated gesture language, chanting, exaggerated expressions of the face and eyes, together with elaborate headdresses and makeup constitute a Kutiyattam play. Music is provided by the mizhavu drums, small cymbals, idakka (an hour-glass shaped drum), kuzhal (an oboe-like wind instrument), and the shankh (conch shell).