Victims are glorified as heroes in performances like Kaniyan Koothu and Villupattu. While the growing number of honour killings in recent months across Tamil Nadu has sparked both outrage and despair, Tamil folklore is replete with several such incidents. Ironically, many victims have became folk heroes with stories of their love and loss recalled in Kaniyan Koothu and Villupattu performances during festivals of folk deities in southern Tamil Nadu. Special meetings were held to plan the murder of those who married outside their caste ,” says folklorist A.K. “But the conversion could not prevent him from being murdered,” said Dr. Perumal, explaining the storyline of Muthupattan Kathai, now performed by Kaniyan Koothu and Villupaatu artistes.

Source: The Hindu October 22, 2016 21:01 UTC