r/BeAmazed • u/nikulmmadhu • 2d ago

Art an 18th century satirical art form with sharp social commentary in india called ottam thullal

2.9k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

122 comments sorted by

•

u/BeAmazed-ModBot Subreddit Bot 2d ago

Did you find this post really amazing (in a positive way)?
If yes, then UPVOTE this comment otherwise DOWNVOTE it.
This community feedback will help us determine whether this post is suited for r/BeAmazed or not.

515

u/summercloudsadness 1d ago

These guys will always be on the lookout during their performance and the moment they see someone in the audience not paying attention ,they will roast that person so bad (using really funny,improvised lines). Such an immersive experience.

82

u/Oppai_Guyy 1d ago

Isn't what you said chakkiyar koothu?

Apologies if I sound ignorant

57

u/summercloudsadness 1d ago

You are correct,this applies to Chaakyar Koothu too. Chaakyar Koothu is the original art form,Ottam Thullal was made by Kunjan Nambiar after he was ridiculed by a Chakyar for dozing off during the Koothu performance. Ottam Thullal,unlike Chaakyar Koothu,was made accessible to all masses (the koothu audience were mainly Kings,aristocrats and the upper class).

It's been years since I watched it so I just checked to confirm after your comments,and I found this :

Additionally, the Thullal artist takes liberties with the audience, occasionally using his stylised gestures and voice to poke fun at anyone who draws his attention during the performance. https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/A-leap-in-his-heart/article14513219.ece/amp/

Sorry,I'm not am expert to point out the differences in these art forms well,I'm open to corrections.

6

u/Realistic_Patience67 1d ago

Wow! That's fresh new info for me. Naad Evide 😁.

5

u/InitialBusy3585 1d ago

Kollaam

1

u/ohsayaa 16h ago

Why are you threatening that person for a simple question?

6

u/LeafBoatCaptain 1d ago

I don't remember which one it was but I got called out once when I was a kid.

8

u/Glittering-Artist-94 1d ago

Yes. It's chakkiyar koothu. Kadhakali usually play a set of stories pulled from ramayana or mahabharata

10

u/summercloudsadness 1d ago

This isn't Kathakali (although there are some similarities in the face paint). Kathakali has much more intricate make up and outfits. Ottam Thullal performer uses his own vocals while in Kathakali,there are back up singers while the performer only emotes and dances (and occassionally makes noises of exclamation expressing anger,fear,disgust etc). Ottam Thullal is satirical but Kathakali is more like storytelling (mythology) through expressions,gestures and dancing.

8

u/curiousbasu 1d ago

Wait, so like they sing and roast you?

14

u/summercloudsadness 1d ago

They sing and perform and when they see some disruption,they will use exagerrated expressions,makes noises and hand gestures to make fun of the person as in "woah,look at this fella",or "I can't believe your audacity,man" kind of way. Like a teacher who stops their lecture to roast a student or when they don't stop the lecture but roll their eyes at the student while continuing the lecture.

Chakyar Koothu used to be performed mostly in temples,uses a mix of Sanskrit (dead language like Latin) and the native tongue which the masses couldn't easily understand while Ottam Thullal uses simple language and is more of a relaxed performance. Ottam Thullal was mainly satire& social commentary while Chakyar Koothu used to be stories about mythologies but now it has also emerged to include contemporary social commentary.

To my knowledge,Chakyar trolls the audience in a bit more mean way (but not cruel) while Ottam Thullal is friendlier. The lines are blurred nowadays when it comes to the way they roast the audience,but both art forms still got really distinctive costumes,makeup,ways of storytelling etc.

1

u/anon_mun_1 19h ago

Sanskrit is not a dead language. There are multiple communities of scholars/poets/writers/general people who speak it. Universities dedicated to it both inside and out of India

2

u/blissfactory 18h ago

But as mother tongue?

1

u/curiousbasu 1d ago

And what if someone doesn't understand the language?

5

u/summercloudsadness 1d ago

Ottam Thullal,the art form posted here,is performed in simple native language sung in a rhythmic way. This art form originated as a response to art forms like Chakyar Koothu,that was aimed at elite audiences. In Chakyar Koothu,the language is a mixture of Sanskrit (that common people won't understand) and its explanation in the native language. Ottam Thullal aimed at breaking the class,language barrier.

Kind of like the Romantic poetry being a response to the Neo Classical age where poets like Wordsworth made poetry more accessible to the common man by using everyday language.

2

u/PoetLoverBirdwatcher 23h ago

Literature major?

216

u/Diligent_Dig9591 1d ago

My family and I would go to these performances when I was a child and I would be scared as shit and I am still scared. 

48

u/sirdollface 1d ago

Im so glad you said that. Because here i am, a grown ass man, thinkin to myself, "that's kinds scary"

11

u/naruto_bist 1d ago

I am 30 and if this person stood in front of me even now, i will be shit scared too.

0

u/True-Farmer9295 1d ago

I have seen it only on screen, and it use to scare me too.. I think that because these performances have to be expressive, facial gestures matter a lot and are more dramatic than the regular dance forms.

82

u/Nixexs 1d ago

The guy's face muscles are moving more than my complete body muscles do.

13

u/PoetLoverBirdwatcher 1d ago

If you unknowingly sit in the front rows or something, they will point at you and roast you so bad. That too using lines improvised at the moment. It's funny for the audience but major embarassment for the person who gets teased 😅😅

3

u/beg_yer_pardon 1d ago edited 1d ago

Thankfully I dont understand a whole lot of Malayalam but my mallu husband would have a fantastic laugh at my expense coz HE would surely understand the roast.

276

u/apeoida 2d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/xakXSnCpsqZWM

28

u/100YearsWaiting2Shit 1d ago

I really now want to see the mask used across the world

-22

u/Time_Peace_6393 1d ago

Please dont do this this is disrespect of my culture

9

u/BlinkSwagger 1d ago

Guy just pointed out the similarity. Veruthe enthina...

-19

u/deval2605 1d ago

Calm down suresh. Its reddit.

28

u/Fada_Pyrenees 1d ago

How many years does it take to get your eyebrows to do that, incredible

29

u/rishikeshshari 1d ago

I went as a child to a temple to watch this performance, i slept off and the guy grilled me!

10

u/curiousbasu 1d ago

By singing?

6

u/rishikeshshari 1d ago

Yess

4

u/curiousbasu 1d ago

This is interesting and hilarious, I'm definitely gonna watch it some day if I can .

41

u/Senselesspassion 2d ago

And good at all of them too

40

u/Fatsparrow0 1d ago

My allergic ass trying to hold in the 50th sneeze of the day

25

u/Remarkable_Cod5549 2d ago

Jim Carrey would have loved this dance in the 90s

13

u/technomage13 2d ago

I know where this goes. I've seen The Mask...

21

u/Kasern77 2d ago

I do not like the way he looks at me.

15

u/No_Chemist9666 1d ago

This isnt kadhakali. This is ottamthullal. Different artform

7

u/Humble-Experience694 1d ago

Bruh did you read the title??

2

u/NaturalCreation 1d ago

I think they were trying to reply to this comment but then reddit glitched out or something.

2

u/No_Chemist9666 1d ago

They changed the title. It was kathakali before

9

u/kriticalmission 1d ago

Pardon my ignorance, but does this come under Kathakali?

12

u/PhantomOfTheNopera 1d ago

Not ignorant at all and a pretty good guess. This appears to be Ottamthullal, which is from the same region as Kathakali (Kerala). The face paints also use similar colours.

I'm no expert but my understanding is that Kathakali is more high brow. It's a performance of great epics - the training involved is more formal (in poetry, singing, dance that is inspired by multiple things including martial arts - kalaripayattu). Ottamthullal is more accessible and involves improvisation and audience interaction. If they catch you being distracted, they'll roast the hell out of you.

6

u/PoetLoverBirdwatcher 1d ago

The roasting makes me scared to go to these performances. Once my friend got teased so bad (about not bathing or something like that 😭😭).

3

u/knowtoomuchtobehappy 1d ago

Jokes on them. I actually don't bathe.

5

u/ChaiChillumChapatii 1d ago

Well the pro roasters are a totally different bunch - chakkyar kooth. You get emotional damage from em. The guys hardly deviate from their script.

1

u/kriticalmission 1d ago

Ooh, interesting! Thanks for the answer!

3

u/edehlah 1d ago

that is pretty cool

3

u/No_Calligrapher_4969 2d ago

Why do I see Peele?

3

u/ccrlop 1d ago

Those expressions could be stuff of nightmares for some!

4

u/Direct_Big_834 1d ago

i'm really surprised at all these comments calling it scary. the entire point of this artform is that its really funny to watch.

1

u/ccrlop 3h ago

True that is

3

u/Calm-Orchid-1583 1d ago

Isn't this ചക്ക്യാർ കൂത്ത്(chakkyar koothu) and not ഓട്ടം തുള്ളൽ(ottam thullal)?

ഓട്ടം തുള്ളൽ is actually a dance form whereas ചക്ക്യാർ കൂത്ത് is performed like a story narration where they tease anyone and anything.

3

u/PoetLoverBirdwatcher 1d ago

No this is Ottan Thullal. Koothu doesn't use green make-up.

4

u/KAM5Y 1d ago

I think the real talent is being able to do those facial expressions without laughing at yourself

4

u/Fatsparrow0 1d ago

My fat ass trying to fit into a tight dress

6

u/WhimsicallyWired 1d ago

Being the singer, actor and dancer isn't uncommon at all.

3

u/earldogface 1d ago

Op has never seen a musical.

7

u/Prestigious_Title580 1d ago

I'm pretty sure op has seen indian movies

3

u/PhantomOfTheNopera 1d ago

And the actors rarely - if ever - sing in those. They usually lip sync. Which might be why OP thinks it's worth mentioning.

-35

u/WhimsicallyWired 1d ago

And this one isn't even particularly good.

4

u/Facts_pls 1d ago

You could tell from 3 seconds of singing you don't understand? You must be a judge on a certain show

2

u/arunnairks 1d ago

Old school Stand up and roasting…!

2

u/tideshark 1d ago

I wish we got an edit that showed more of this guys talent than just some eyebrow rolling and facial flickering things… do this guy some real credit if you’re going to make a post about him and performers of his culture.

8

u/eeronen 1d ago

Singer, actor and dancer all himself

Isn't that true for most actors in your average stage musical?

6

u/Kimono-Ash-Armor 2d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/bSN5yFYScMTbDcL2Gf

3

u/Shydro3131 1d ago

Came here to look for this character specifically!

2

u/Tranceported 1d ago

Should have burned a few more subs on the face!!!

1

u/eternalseeker0101 1d ago

I can't like something I fear..this shit always scared me..so I can never appreciate it when I can't even dare to watch

1

u/ChunkayLafunga 1d ago

But using that the norm for live theatre?

1

u/ProjectOrpheus 1d ago

The Mask inspiration?

1

u/onlyonejan 1d ago

That made me feel uneasy

1

u/BassMaster516 1d ago

That facial control is insane

1

u/NewToHTX 1d ago

Nightmare scenario when you’re high on Hallucinogens and this guy is your Trip Minder to make sure you don’t lose you shit.

1

u/SPB29 1d ago

First time seeing this and I live in a state that borders the state where this art form is from.

The next time there's a live performance in my city, am watching it. This is amazing

1

u/MySignIsToaster 17h ago

Well, he has a point.

1

u/target999 13h ago

FORWARD DEPLOYED ENGINEER !

1

u/Hairofmadman 1d ago

He/she has better teeth than me 🤦🏻‍♂️

0

u/JoshieC883 1d ago

3-5 seconds is the EXACT reaction of my cat when i fart

0

u/Cenachii 1d ago

I SUMMON POT OF GREED

0

u/twoeyed_pirate 1d ago

The Mask!

0

u/Timely-Ad-1984 1d ago

It's good to see Shrek is still working hard.

-7

u/XomokyH 2d ago

Now that’s what I call relevant social commentary! He sure showed them. mind=blown 🤯

-7

u/elons-musk-ox 2d ago

Not sure about this new The Mask movie

10

u/pawnime 2d ago

Umm. Clearly this is the OG.

-1

u/exploring_yet 1d ago

Why 18th century?

-24

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

14

u/Comprehensive_Can201 2d ago

As opposed to the other gargantuan efforts in the subreddit?

-4

u/WhimsicallyWired 1d ago

Right? It's ok at best.

-11

u/ProofOfRyExistence 1d ago

Main character syndrome satire. Neat.

-2

u/bumpit007 1d ago

Lol pass

-2

u/Charming_Raccoon4361 1d ago

serious stuff

-6

u/Classic_Year_2258 1d ago

its too difficult!!!!

-2

u/Wild-Way-9596 1d ago

He'd make a fun horror movie enemy.

1

u/daepa17 2h ago

why is shrek doing the shaq eyebrows