Chavitu Natakam

Chavitu Natakam

Chavittunatakam a Christian art form of Kerala. Evolved at the turn of the 16th Century AD during the Portuguese colonization and bears definite traces of the European Christian Miracle Play. As a theatrical art form, developed under the churches, the actors in addition to the dialogue and songs, stamp the wooden platform with their feet to the tune of music. In this musical drama, the actors wear Greco-Roman costumes and even the stage props bear several foreign influences. In the past, the Chavittunatakom was performed on open stages, though sometimes the interior of a church was also a venue. The language is a colloquial mix of Tamil and Malayalam.Today this art form is almost defunct