Disseminating alternative discourses in Kerala: Cultural and political implications of Pattabakki (1938)
By: Mohan, Manu and Singh, Smriti
.
Material type: 
BookPublisher: Economic & Political Weekly Description: 61(8), Feb 21, 2026: p.46-52.
In:
Economic & Political WeeklySummary: Pattabakki(Lease Balance) (1938), written by K Damodaran, was the first political natakam in Kerala that challenged the dominant theatrical, political, and cultural paradigms. It emerged at a historically contingent moment when peasant organisations and communist groups were mobilising against feudal exploitation in society. This theatre genre countered the hegemony of mythological and historical dramas by dramatising systemic agrarian oppression and advocating collective resistance. The natakams’ innovative use of makeshift stages and accessible performance strategies transformed theatre from a commercial commodity into a political intervention. Pattabakki’s legacy extended beyond individual performances, inspiring subsequent political theatre, influencing trade union movements, and contributing to the formation of workers’ cultural organisations, thereby institutionalising theatre as an instrument of class consciousness and social transformation in Kerala.-Reproduced
https://www.epw.in/journal/2026/8/special-articles/disseminating-alternative-discourses-kerala.html
| Item type | Current location | Call number | Vol info | Status | Date due | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Articles
|
Indian Institute of Public Administration | 61(8), Feb 21, 2026: p.46-52 | Available | AR138671 |
Pattabakki(Lease Balance) (1938), written by K Damodaran, was the first political natakam in Kerala that challenged the dominant theatrical, political, and cultural paradigms. It emerged at a historically contingent moment when peasant organisations and communist groups were mobilising against feudal exploitation in society. This theatre genre countered the hegemony of mythological and historical dramas by dramatising systemic agrarian oppression and advocating collective resistance. The natakams’ innovative use of makeshift stages and accessible performance strategies transformed theatre from a commercial commodity into a political intervention. Pattabakki’s legacy extended beyond individual performances, inspiring subsequent political theatre, influencing trade union movements, and contributing to the formation of workers’ cultural organisations, thereby institutionalising theatre as an instrument of class consciousness and social transformation in Kerala.-Reproduced
https://www.epw.in/journal/2026/8/special-articles/disseminating-alternative-discourses-kerala.html
There are no comments for this item.