A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c19.s5.8

c19.s5.8

A word must be said about Āṭṭakatha or Kathakaḷi. This variety of dance-drama was till a few years ago believed to be a development of recent origin, not older than two or three centuries at the most. Recent research has shown, however, that the first Āṭṭakathas were composed towards the close of the fifteenth century, and that the Rāman-āṭṭam of Koṭṭārakkara Tampurān, meant to be completed in eight performances, is the earliest of the extant Āṭṭakathas; though there is no direct evidence, the author may be taken to belong to the sixteenth century. Later contributions to this type of popular literature—about two hundred Kathas have so far been listed—lie outside the period covered by this book.