villupattu

•  In Tamil Nadu  a very interesting form of recitation named villlupatu developed during the 15^th century .
•  Villupattu means bow- song because a bow shaped musical instrument of strong high tension string is used for placing it in an earthen pitcher . 
• It is believed that  this narrative form was an invention by Arasa pulavar. 
• The troupe gives its performance  mostly during temple festivals . 
• There are seven to eight persons in a troupe who form a kind of chorus that supports  the main singer – narrator .
•  When the chief narrator sings, the chorus takes out the refrain from the song and repeats it in unison .
• The whole party sits in the ground and performs with a lot of gesticulation and facial expression to suit the narrative they have taken. 
• The balled style songs are composed in the rural dialect which appeals to the audience who sometimes join the troupe with suitable notes or words
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