Why It Mattered
Kerala is a mosaic of religions—Hinduism, Islam, Christianity—and their rituals permeate the cinema. The Theyyam (a ritualistic dance form of northern Kerala, where performers embody gods) has been a recurring motif. In Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha (2009), the Theyyam serves as the voice of truth and justice in a caste-ridden village. The Christian pallikettu (wedding) and the Muslim nercha (offering festival) are depicted with anthropological precision, often to critique the hypocrisy or the emotional repression within these communities. www desi mallu com 2021