Centuries-Old Folk Theater Reimagined to Confront Tamil Nadu's Rising Temperatures

From Epic Myth to Environmental Reality

In the traditional theater circuits of Tamil Nadu, the centuries-old art of Kattaikoothu is typically associated with the heroic sagas of the Mahabharata. However, a new production titled Veppathin Veriyattam is pivoting away from ancient demons to confront a contemporary threat: extreme heat. Developed by veteran performer Thilagavathi Palani in partnership with the NGO Asar, the play addresses how rising temperatures ravage the health and livelihoods of local communities.

Palani, a 36-year-old artist from Ranipet, spent six months developing the piece after researching global climate data and observing local environmental degradation. She noted the severe impact of deforestation along the Arcot-Cheyyar Bypass, where rising heat levels coincided with distressing news of heat-related fatalities and reproductive health complications. The production follows the daily struggles of students in sweltering classrooms, laborers working in dangerous conditions, and families living under heat-trapping tin roofs.

A Pioneering Voice in a Male-Dominated Craft

Thilagavathi Palani's career has been defined by breaking traditional boundaries. As the eldest of five daughters from a low-income family, she began her journey as the sole girl among boys learning the craft in her village. Her formal training solidified at the Kattaikkuttu Gurukulam in Kancheepuram under the tutelage of P. Rajagopal. In 2002, she emerged as one of the first women to perform professionally in a field that had excluded female artists for generations.

Her troupe, Sri Thilagam Kattaikkuttu Kuzhu, reflects her commitment to social evolution through art. The current 13-member ensemble includes:

• Five seasoned professional artists.
• Five schoolchildren trained by Palani to enhance the play's relatability for younger audiences.
• A collaborative script process informed by environmental researchers.

Social Advocacy Through Performance

While many critics label Kattaikoothu a declining art, Palani argues the form remains vibrant in rural festival circuits. She contends that theater serves as a vital medium for "dying discourses" rather than being a dying practice itself. Her previous work has tackled diverse systemic issues, including leprosy, anemia, and gender disparity. Through her involvement with the Katradi Trust and various advocacy groups, she has bridged the gap between folk art and social activism.

The production will debut at Vedavalli Vidyalaya in Ranipet before touring seven educational institutions across the Ranipet and Tiruvannamalai districts. By personifying heat as a character on stage, Palani aims to shift public perspective. She suggests that heat is not an inherent villain, but rather a force turned destructive by human environmental neglect.

Source: The Hindu — Cities