Koothu is an informal dance structure usually performed in streets or in makeshift stages; the performances generally depict the scenes from ancient epics like Ramayana, Mahabharatha, and other Tamil classical epics. There are traditionally no dialogues, instead only songs. Artists are trained to sing in their own voice and in a high pitch to reach the entire crowd (in fact, no amplification technology is used). The artists are dressed up with complex heavy costumes and have a very bright-elaborated makeup. They put on towering headdresses, sparkling shoulder plates and wide colorful props. Koothu is also used as a tool to promote awareness about social causes to the general public. Purisai (located in Thiruvannamalai, 105 km from Chennai) is considered as one of the very few villages where Therukoothu culture is still alive.
