Ottan Thullal

Understand

Where Ottan Thullal comes from

Ottan Thullal (also Ottamthullal) is a recite-and-dance art-form of Kerala introduced in the 18th century by Kunchan Nambiar, one of the Prachina Kavithrayam — the three famous Malayalam-language poets of the period. According to legend, Nambiar fell asleep while playing the mizhavu drum for a Chakyar Koothu performance and was ridiculed by the chakyar. In response he developed Ottamthullal, a satirical solo form that raised prevailing sociopolitical questions and skewered human pedigrees and prejudices. The Chakyar complained to the king of Chembakassery, who briefly banned the form from the Ambalapuzha temple complex. Related art forms are Seethankan thullal and Parayan thullal. Mathur Panikkar later popularised Ottamthullal for modern audiences.

How it's practiced

Ottan Thullal is performed by a solo performer (traditionally male, but in modern practice also female) in green makeup and a colourful costume decorated with a long red and white band and painted wooden ornaments. The performer acts, dances and recites the Thullal lyrics simultaneously, with a chorus of one or more artists repeating each sentence as it is completed. The accompanying music is the mridangam (barrel-shaped double-headed drum) and/or the idakka (hourglass drum), with ilathalam cymbals. The performer parodies the ways of landlords, the king and even higher castes — the character of Bhima from the Mahabharata is famously portrayed as an oaf in the play Kallyana Sougandhikam.