In a historic first, a practising Thullal artist is awarded a PhD for highlighting the art form’s non-conformist aspects. For the first time in history, a Thullal performer was awarded a PhD for her thesis on the performance aspects of the traditional dance drama developed and popularized by legendary artist and ace satirist Kunchan Nambiar. While several doctoral degrees have been awarded for Thullal research in state universities, they have primarily focused on the literary aspects of the art form.
Notably, none of these researchers were Thullal practitioners. Drisya Gopi was recently awarded a PhD by Kerala University for her thesis Adhikara Vimarsanam Kunchan Nambiarude Thullal Kalayil (Criticism of the establishment in Kunchan Nambiar’s Thullal art). Excerpts from an interview: What inspired you to become a Thullal performer and later pursue academic research on the art form? I started learning Thullal, Kathakali, Koodiyattam, and Nangiarkoothu at a young age.
I used to perform and win prizes at school youth festivals. Over time, I developed a particular fondness for Thullal fashioned and popularized by Kunchan Nambiar as a critical social commentary in a pungent, caricaturish tone. Thullal offers more than just an audiovisual feast.
It questions authority and the powerful in an uncompromising and disturbing manner. Nambiar was deeply concerned with social realities and injustice and fearlessly questioned the decadence in 18th-century Kerala society. I earned my bach.
