The greatest stimulus to the growth of
attakatha as a literary form and
kathakali as a performing art came from Kottayam Thampuran. He belonged to the royal family of Northern Kottayam and is belived to have lived in the 17th century. Bhagavata, Kalyana Saugandhikam, Kirmiravadham and Kalakeyavadham are his contributions. Bakavadham ('The Killing of Baka') is believed to be the first kathakali play written by Kottayam Thampuran.
