Sanjai Velayudhan's Blog - Posts Tagged "theatre"
Theyyam-Dance of the Spirits
Sometimes, one realizes that one has to love their land of birth 'warts & all'. Kerala is no different-its a great place however, it has warts too. And warts can't be hidden with layers of make-up or unconditional love (physical or psychological).
The caste system was enforced in Kerala with particular harshness. The so-called lower castes lived a desperate life.
Theyyam was an outcome of this desperation. People created fierce and vengeful gods to strike fear in the minds of their perpetrators. Games people play!
Theyyam was dismissed by missionaries as Devil-dance without realizing that it carried a million meanings. For me, Theyyam is nothing but 'Theatre of the oppressed'. You can read the story of Theyyam, the fierce spirits in the pantheon and human aspirations in 'Dance of the Spirits'
The caste system was enforced in Kerala with particular harshness. The so-called lower castes lived a desperate life.
Theyyam was an outcome of this desperation. People created fierce and vengeful gods to strike fear in the minds of their perpetrators. Games people play!
Theyyam was dismissed by missionaries as Devil-dance without realizing that it carried a million meanings. For me, Theyyam is nothing but 'Theatre of the oppressed'. You can read the story of Theyyam, the fierce spirits in the pantheon and human aspirations in 'Dance of the Spirits'
