---
title: "Kutiyattam: Sanskrit Theatre Tradition | Model Diplomat"
description: "Kūṭiyāṭṭam is a UNESCO-recognized Sanskrit theatre from Kerala, showcasing a 2,000-year-old tradition of combined acting in temple theatres."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/kutiyattam"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Kūṭiyāṭṭam is a Sanskrit theatre tradition of Kerala, performed in temple theatres, recognised by UNESCO in 2001 as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
- Why is Kūṭiyāṭṭam significant in India's intangible heritage record?
- Which communities and instrument are central to Kūṭiyāṭṭam?
- What is the theoretical and textual basis of Kūṭiyāṭṭam?
- How should candidates distinguish Kūṭiyāṭṭam from Chakyar Koothu and Kathakali?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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In 2001 UNESCO proclaimed Kerala's Kūṭiyāṭṭam a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, the recognition built on Guru Māni Mādhava Chākyār's mid-20th-century work bringing the temple theatre to public stages.

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