It was when Vetri MV underwent rigorous training at the Puducherry-based Indianostrum Theatre that he learnt the nuances of Therukoothu, an ancient traditional folk theatre of Tamil Nadu. Everyday, the members of the group had to undergo training in Kalari, Silambam, Devar attam, Oyil Attam, acrobatics and Therukoothu, and it was Therukoothu that fascinated me, says Vetri.
“When I was in France last year to participate in a theatre workshop, I was deeply inspired by the resource person who motivated me to celebrate the dwindling folk art and explore ways to popularise it. I launched Akku (a Tamil alphabet), along with Kumar Kaliyaperumal, a theatre artiste and R Satish Kumar, professional story teller (both from Indianostrum Theatre),” says Vetri. He had lived in Purasai village near Kanchipuram and trained in Therukoothu from Sambandha Kannappar.
When Vetri decided to come up with a production based on Therukoothu, titled Adavu (dance steps), he conducted a free three-day workshop and selected five of them and trained them. “In koothu, the female role will be played by a male, but here I have cast a female in the role of Draupadi. A Koothu will be performed usually for couple of hours, but my production is only 10 minutes long, and this was a big challenge for me,” he says. A shorter duration of this folk art form, he feels, will enable him to reach out to younger audiences. “Koothu is a dwindling art, and it is my endeavour to popularise it in a shorter format, and take it to schools and colleges and educate the next generation about this art.”
Adavu, directed by Vetri, has the central theme of the ethos of a Therukoothu actor and depicts his life. The play explores the relevance of koothu artistes in today’s context. Adavu, perfomed by Satish and Kumar along with five other artistes, strives to keep it traditional, untouched by modernisation.
(Adavu premieres at Delightful December presented by CODA, on December 23, Museum Theatre, Egmore, 8 pm. For details, call 9176332333).