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Tamil Nadu had developed the art of
entertainment to its pristine heights at an early age. The three modes of
entertainment classified as "Iyal" (Literature), "Isai"
(Music) and "Nadagam" (Drama) had their roots in the rural folk
theatre like Therukoothu. Therukoothu (street play) is the vibrant living
theatre of Tamil Nadu.
Therukoothu
Therukoothu is more popular in the northern districts of Tamil Nadu and
is normally conducted during village festivals, during the months of
Panguni (March-April) and Aadi (July-August). The stories are taken from
epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata, and also local folklore.
Usually the play starts in the late evening and gets over only during the
small hours of the nights. The performance is so interesting that the
audiences are spellbound unaware of the longs hours.
Theatre In Chennai
Chennai Theatre has
come a long way from couple to three productions a year about 5 years
back, to approximately about 25 productions per year now, comprising of
local, regional, domestic, national as well as international shows,
seminars and festivals.
Chennai also is
witness to a bevy of happenings all around with little and large-group
skill improvement workshops, experimental laboratory works,
works-in-progress presentations, etc. The city boasts of its own list of
theatre festivals, such as "The Other Festival" that brings to
the city the best of international talent and artistry on the arts,
theatre, dance and music front and "Natak", the inter-collegiate
theatre festival that brings together and showcases the best of city's
college and campus theatre talents.
The Traditional Of Super Theatre
Notwithstanding, there is also the culture of Supper Theatre,
entertainment evenings offered by corporate houses and NGOs who bring
theatre into the banquet halls of city's choicest restaurants either as a
service to their valuable customers or in aid of some special and noble
cause.
This has been on the rise in recent times, spanning at least one every
other month. Leading Food and Clothing brands in the state bring about
theatre productions domestically, regionally as well as internationally.