[3] The four plays of Kottayam Thampuran, namely, Kirmeeravadham, Bakavadham, Kalyanasaugandhikam, and Kalakeyavadham, are considered very important in the Kathakali repertoire and are a combination of conventional structure (chitta) with intermittent possibilities for improvisation (manodharma).
In the first scene of the play, Draupadi and the eldest Pandava prince Dharmaputra(also known as Yudhishthira) are in distress owing to the heat and dust in the forest.
In the second scene, Dharmaputra consults with the sage Dhaumya, who advises him to do penance to the Sun god(Surya).
Krishna eats this and at once declares that his hunger has disappeared, and by his miraculous powers causes the sages to also feel full.
The characters of Shardula and Simhika are original creations of Kottayam Thampuran; they are not to be found in the Mahabharatha.
In the Mahabharatha, Kirmeera(Kirmira) is a brother of Bakasura and friend of Hidimba, who attacks the Pandavas in order to exact revenge for their death at the hands of Bhima.