Annaviar Velmuruhu Thambimuththu:

A rare kind of Artist is living among us and Honored.


Velmuruhu Thambimuththu is one of the veterans Annaviar of the Eastern part of Sri Lanka. He was born in 05.07.1947 and residing in Siththandy, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

Even though Thmbimuththu Annaviar belongs to the tradition of an Annaviar family, other than to his father, he practices his art under the guidance of various Annaviars who were exponents in the art of Kooththu in the Batticaloa tradition.

Thambimuththu Annaviar is a specialist in both Vadamody and in Thenmody Kooththu (Traditional Theatre) of Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.

He is one of the very few artists who have the skill to make the instruments in the field of traditional arts. He is working with the Third Eye Local Knowledge and Skill Activists Group to share the rare quality of this kind of skill for the future generation.

The future of the art of Kooththu is heavily depended on the existence of art of making and repairing the instruments of the traditional arts. The commitment and contribution of Thambimuththu Annaviar in this regard is praiseworthy.

The involvement of Thambimuththu Annaviar in the Reformulation of Kooththu Program in Seelamunai, Batticaloa is also very commendable. His presence and contribution in the process of Reformulation of Kooththu Program shows the power of skills and knowledge of Annaviars to the younger generations.

The art of living of the artists like Thambimuthtu Annaviar in the communities are the essence of existence of art of Kooththu and the other traditional form of arts.

S.Jeyasankar
17.10.2006