This photo essay covers the backstage events of Veerapandiya Kattabomman Natakam staged in Soorangudi, a village in the southern part of the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, concerning the Perumal Kovil temple festival in 2022.

Dramas have always been a vehicle of history, politics and culture. In Tamil Nadu, dramas and drama companies have a long standing history and tradition. Right from the colonial period, the dramas or plays were used as popular media for the propagation of Nationalist politics across various parts of Tamil Nadu and regional politics and ideology much later. For Tamils, as cinemas in recent times, dramas have been more than a part of their life from the early period. In rural spaces of Tamil Nadu, theatre performances were mainly related to temple festivals. They organize mythological plays like Mahabharatham, Ramayanam and Valli Thirumana Natagam and historical dramas of Raja Harichandra, Maveeran Sundaralingam and Veerapandiya Kattabomman predominantly. Even though documentation is happening around traditional, cultural, folk, and art, even their unconventional forms, such as photographs and videos, especially available in sources like YouTube, the backstage event of such performances still needs to be explored. 

This photo essay covers the backstage events of Veerapandiya Kattabomman Natakam staged in Soorangudi, a village in the southern part of the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu, concerning the Perumal Kovil temple festival in 2022. Being a native of the village, I had the opportunity to explore and document the theatre experiences I witnessed from my childhood. My grandfather and even my father used to say, “Who has seen Veerapandiya Kattabomman in our time? It was through such dramas people discerned that he would have been like this. They identify Kattabomman through the character features of the protagonist, later through the Sivaji Ganesan starred film” of the same name, Veerapandiya Kattabomman (1959), directed by B. R. Panthulu. This affirms the longstanding relationship between cinema and drama among the commons in the countryside. 

Veerapandiya Kattabomman (1760-1799) was a prominent ruler, a Polygar from Panchalankurichi of Thoothukudi District (then Tirunelveli area) in the region of Tamil Nadu who opposed the British East India Company during the 18th century. The drama showcases the valour and resistance displayed by Veerapandiya Kattabomman against the British colonial forces. The play includes various episodes from his life, battles, and the eventual capture and execution of Kattabomman. The performance is often characterized by vibrant costumes, traditional music, and dance, making it a captivating and culturally rich experience for the audience. Veerapandiya Kattabomman’s story is an integral part of Tamil Nadu’s history, and the natakam serves as a medium to keep his legacy alive and commemorate his contributions to the region’s struggle against colonial rule.

About the Author

Deivendra Kumar A

Deivendra Kumar A is currently pursuing PhD in Communication from the University of Hyderabad. He is one of the editors of The Station. Deivendra mostly deals with cinema, culture and human interest stories of The Station.

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