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Abstract

Directly or indirectly, the marginalized section of society often gives raise to various forms of resistance and protest. The dominant conviction of protest is framed as an organized movement of the people against certain form of injustice, exploitations and discrimination done to particular strata of society. It is not necessarily that they should constitute a direct attack; rather they would express their dissent through some alternatives means such as cultural performances, literary writings, drama etc through their creativity. Theyyam is a ritual folk art form which has been quite popular in the north Malabar region, of Kerala, India. Theyyam, a living cult with several hundred years old traditions, rituals and customs acts as a mediator between God and devotees. This paper explores how the folk theatre of Theyyam performance can be considered a site of protest - violence against women and her sexuality by challenging the existing feudal, caste ridden, patriarchal society by giving focus on the theyyam performance of the deity of Muchilott Baghavathy, an incarnation of Parasakti/Parvati.


 

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