Therukoothu (Tamil Nadu): Ritual, Performance, and the Living Heritage of Folk Theatre

==== Themes and Storytelling Tradition ====
Therukoothu largely bases its narratives on Tamil versions of the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Periya Puranam, and Sangam literature. These are not conveyed as remote legends. They are restaged in a manner that directly addresses the villagers, mixing elements of comedy, ethics, and pathos. People believe that the performance brings good luck, keeps bad luck away, and makes sure that everyone is healthy. This concept turns theatre into a ritual of shared belief (Thomas Swamy, 2025).

The usual eight-play cycle, titled Draupadi Amman Therukoothu, centers on significant events such as Draupadi Swayamvar, Panchali Sabatam, and Kurukshetra Yuddham. These legends focus on values like dharma, devotion, sacrifice, and justice, thereby imparting them a spiritual element.