Irulas are indigenous communities that reside in the Attappadi area of Kerala's Palakkad district and they are the 5th largest scheduled tribe in Kerala, south India. The majority of Irula population lives in Tamil Nadu and they are under particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) category. Koothu of many forms is highly widespread in Kerala and Tamil Nadu states and is part of their culture. Irulas' Koothu performance is mostly based on their Tamil heritage. They perform Koothu on important occasions such as temple festivals and rites after death (occasion of death anniversary and annual feast). Ramarkoothu, Harischandrakoothu, and Sirithundankoothu are the three main sorts of Koothu found among Irulas. People are now only performing Ramarkoothu which is based on Ramayana-based epic stories. In addition to songs and percussion, the performers perform dance and act. The songs are used to narrate oral stories. The art form is currently in a state of existential crisis. The primary cause is a lack of interest in younger generations, as well as the extensive set-up necessary to perform this act. Another key cause is the impact of modernisation. The primary data is gathered through ethnographic fieldwork among the Irulas of Attapadi district, Kerala, south India. The paper is also depending on secondary sources collected from published materials and online sources in order to present our epistemological accounts of the paper.
