I have countless posts on Theyyams here, but none on the ‘Thottam Pattu’…
Each Theyyam performance is preceded by it’s Thottam, where the theyyam artist, with minimal make up, recites the story of theyyam.
Vishnumurthy theyyam is one of the most important and common theyyam performed as it’s based on lord Vishnu’s fourth avatar (incarnation), Narasimha.
The performance is so intense that, we get the true intensity of violence as the story unfolds.
The story is enacted on the following day without any recitation but with the rhythmic drum beats manipulating each step of the theyyam …
Santiago the Shepherd 