Theatre

It was Chavara Kuriakose Elias who first wrote and presented a play.  He wrote 10 one-act plays. The drama did not gain popularity since it was confined to seminaries and churches. Ebrayakutty written by Kandathil Varghese Mappila, based on a biblical theme is the first Bible drama in Malayalam. C. J. Thomas too had a passion for biblical themes. His famous play, Aa Manushyan Neeyanu deals with the romance of David and Bethseba.

Villarvattom Natakam written by Kattakayam Cheiyan Mappila is a historical play. One of the notable biblical plays is Kainikkara Padmanabha Pillai’s Kalvariyile Kalpapadapam. Mariyama Natakam of Polachirakkal Kocheapen Tharakan is one of the prominent plays of those days. Ponkunnam Varkey, Muttathu Varkey, P. J. Antony, Joseph Mattam, Joseph Cheruvathur, Paravur George and C. L. Jose have also written biblical plays.