Poikkal Kuthirai Attam is a folk dance form from Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, named after the artists’ costumes. The literal translation of the words is ‘Poikkal’ meaning false legs, and ‘Kuthirai’ meaning horse, depicting the usage of dummy legs of a horse.

 

The Maratha kings encouraged this art form during their reign in Tamil Nadu. It was earlier performed only in the King’s court and processions during religious celebrations for the village deity, Ayyanar.

 

This dance is performed with a lightweight, horse-like structure made of cardboard, jute, or paper, with a hole big enough to fit in a person. Colorful costumes decorated with glasswork and the performer’s rich expressions add to the attraction. Swords and whips are used as additional props.

 

Men, women, and children dress like royalty and dance to the tunes of the instruments wearing the horse structure. The challenging part is that the foot of the artist is attached to wooden sticks (false legs), and they dance making the sound of horse hooves. Artists require intense training and dedication to the art form.

 

This dance form is quoted in epics like Silapathikaram, where the performer dances wearing a horse-like structure made of maple leaves.

 

This dance is accompanied by the Kundala Vadhyam (instruments used for the supporting music) or Nayyandi Melam. This includes Nadaswaram, a wind instrument, and Tavil, a percussion instrument.

 

It is very disheartening to note that artists who have received awards for their contributions to this art form, now survive in dire conditions in Chennai.Though Non-Resident Indians encourage these art forms by establishing centers, like Kombu Performing Arts and Research centers in Washington DC, and writing books, we Indians many a time oversee these art forms, discouraging the artists in their homeland.

 

Efforts are being made by the Tamil Nadu government to revive this art form and make it better known in cities. One of the ways we can express our gratitude to our nation is by encouraging the artists and the dance in its original form, and we at Nrityamrutha strive to do our part every day.