Seethakali (Malayalam: സീതക്കളി) is a subaltern folk dance-drama[1] from Kerala, India.[2] Believed to have originated around 150 years ago in the village of Perinad in the Kollam district.[3] This was historically performed by Dalit artists belonging to the Vedar, Pulayar, and Kuravar communities.[4] The ritualistic art form is deeply intertwined with the agrarian culture of Kerala and was traditionally performed during the annual Onam harvest festival.[5]
Unlike mainstream renditions of the Indian epic Ramayana, Seethakali is distinct because it frames the narrative primarily from the perspective of Sita. The songs of Seethakali were not written down but were passed on orally.[6]
References
edit- ↑ Menon, Anasuya (1 August 2020). "How this Kerala artiste is bringing back Seethakali". The Hindu.
- ↑ Menon, Anasuya (7 June 2019). "Bringing back an almost-extinct art 'Seethakali'". The Hindu.
- ↑ "Seethakali - a centuries-old folk art form from Kerala". Kerala Tourism.
- ↑ R, Rahul (31 August 2023). "Kerala's Perinad Seethakali Academy on mission to revive timeless tale of age-old folk art". The New Indian Express.
- ↑ Sudhish, Navamy (27 August 2023). "Artistes breathe a new life into Seethakali folk art". The Hindu.
- ↑ Das, Steena (19 September 2019). "An extinct art form gets new life". The New Indian Express.