|
The
Performing Art
The sixteenth century also saw the writing of some dramatic works in Manipravalam and pure Malayalam Bharatavakyam, often described as a choral narration, is a work in Manipravalam which was used for stage performance. The authorship is uncertain, but the work seems to have been staged several times. It
is a comedy with a large dose of farce in it. It may be regarded
as the first roopakam in which Malayalam is combined with Sanskrit
to present in a visual form, a story based on Kerala society,
centring round a few characters such as a Nambudiri (Apphan),
his Nayar wife, his manager (Ilayathu) and the children's tutor
(Pisharoti). |