Question

Bring out a few differences between the two art forms: Therukoothu and Bommalattam.

Answer 1

Bommalattam or Puppetry is held in rural areas of Tamil Nadu during festivals and fairs. Skilled puppeteers manipulate the puppets with strings or wires. They stand behind a screen and the puppets are held in front. The puppetry depicts stories mainly from the Puranas, epics, and folklore. Even during the Indian freedom struggle, the awareness programs for the common people were conducted through puppet shows to instill patriotism among the people. Therukoothu is usually conducted during village festivals in the months of Aadi and Panguni. In this dance form, make-up and costumes are considered very important. It is performed on the streets and in the open air. The performance involves storytelling, songs, dance, and dialogue rendering.