A mizhav or mizhavu is a big copper drum played as an accompanying percussion instrument in the Koodiyattam and Koothu, the performing arts of Kerala, which include nangiar koothu, chakyar koothu, and mizhavu thayambaka. It is played by the Ambalavasi Nambiar community. When in 1965 the Kerala Kalamandalam began teaching Koodiyattam, the caste barrier on playing the instrument was broken.