This is an archive article published on September 13, 2018

Epic Journeys

Gods from mythology and heroes from the margins populate the koothu stage — and Sandhya Kumar’s film on this theatre form from Tamil Nadu

4 min readSep 13, 2018 12:49 AM IST

Koothu, Koothu stage, Sandhya Kumar, indian express talk

A still from Koothu; (below) Sandhya Kumar

In the dark of the night, old feuds play out on the koothu stage. In one scene, the Pandavas lose in a game of dice. In another, Abhimanyu is locked in a battle with Karna. Filmmaker Sandhya Kumar watched her first koothu performance in Bengaluru, far from the villages of Tamil Nadu, where it is a popular theatre form. “The performances and physical rigour that was needed in koothu were captivating to watch. I was completely blown away. The performance was entirely in Tamil but I realised that the language was not important to understand all the stories. That is what made me decide to make the film, Koothu,” says Kumar.

Koothu will be screened at Open Frame, an annual festival of films by the Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT), at the India International Centre in Delhi on September 17. Koothu is performed during the nights of Mahabharata festivals, which are organised by temples where Draupadi is worshipped as a goddess. Early on, Kumar informs the viewers that performers are from marginalised communities, whose traditional duty it is to be “servants of society” and “appease the goddess”. She opens the film in darkness, with shots of a car travelling towards an area lit by fairy lights, and performers painting their faces into the masks of mythological figures.

The dark and light in Kumar’s film symbolises the night-long duration of koothu performances as well as the sociopolitical realities of the performers. Kumar, a political science graduate from Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi, who studied filmmaking at Jamia Milia and San Francisco Art Institute, draws out the subaltern nature of koothu in the film. “My mother is ashamed that I am a poor koothu performer. She doesn’t want others to know I do this,” says one boy. A young girl, with golden earrings and strands of white flowers in her hair, tells the camera that she performs despite opposition from her family. “Most of the time when I act like her, I imagine myself to be Draupadi. I like her strength. She was alone. She fought alone. Everybody says she was a very strong girl. I, too, wish to be like her,” she adds.

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Koothu follows films by Kumar such as O Friend, This Waiting! — which was about Bharatanatyam as much as about sexuality and won a National Award in 2013 — and Hockey In My Blood, which is about the Kodava community, numbering 3,50,000 people, of Coorg that is passionate about sports. “I am definitely interested in the subaltern. With Koothu, I was also looking at Hanne M de Bruin, who is working so diligently and meticulously. She was struggling to give it legitimacy and raise funds for an art form that is primarily performed by lower castes. We show how we definitely have a caste bias,” says Kumar.

The film visits teachers, such as P Rajagopal and his Dutch wife, scholar Hanne M de Bruin, from the Kataikuttu Gurukulam, and Sambandan Thambiran, a fifth generation artiste, as well as traces developments in the form. Towards the end of Koothu, one actor, who plays the clown, says, “Why do people come for koothu? Do they come for the story, for the entertainment or perhaps because it gives them happiness.”

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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