Distress and the Dancers

A short animation film, Keli, draws attention to the rebels who come alive in the ‘low-caste’ dance — theyyam.

art, film, short film, Keli, low-caste dance, theyyam, NID, IAWRT

Stills from the film Keli.

Every autumn, thousands of theyyam dancers come together in the villages of the Malabar region in northern Kerala to create performances that are unique for their numbers, as for their nature. A few years ago, a young student from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, made the trip to one such town, Kasaragod, and it was like nothing she had seen before. “Theyyam is a Dalit dance and each legendary story is grim. A righteous person from the lower-castes stands up for his rights, is killed for his insolence, and comes alive every time his or her theyyam is performed,” says Ranjitha Rajeevan, 28. For her diploma production, she created an animation film titled Keli, which draws attention to theyyamas well as to gender and caste discrimination. The seven-minute-long film, which won the Best Animator award at Mumbai International Film Festival 2014, will now be screened at IAWRT film festival in Delhi.

Theyyam means demi-god — informs a caption before the film starts. What the film doesn’t spell out is that keli, a Malayalam word that has no straight English translation, could stand for “fame” or “a new beginning”. It is the latter sense with which Rajeevan tells the story of a little girl, Ponnu, who visits a performance of Pottan Theyyam, a rebel who stood up for equality. Pottan, meaning “fool”, had once told the Shankaracharya, “If you and I are cut, won’t we both bleed?” The Shankaracharya saw the truth in these words, but his followers did not. Pottan was burnt alive and, as the flames engulfed him, he laughed loudly at the foolish world. Little Ponnu is transfixed by Pottan Theyyam’s fierce mask and the vigorous movements of the dancer in a trance, and announces to her mother that she will be a theyyam dancer — not knowing that women do not perform this dance. “Woman walked a thousand miles, yet she walked nothing at all,” says Rajeevan, quoting from an old Malayalam saying.

“Pottan Theyyam performances start in the darkness of the evening and continue till daybreak. The pyre on which wood has been burnt until it is red hot charcoal provides the only light. Pottan Theyyam keeps on collapsing into this fire and has to be pulled out,” says Rajeevan. The fire is among the few colours in the film. Rajeevan painted each frame by hand; there are 24 frames per second.The opening visuals are of idyllic Kerala with rolling hills, palm trees and a path that creates an instant connect with anybody who has ever painted landscapes in high school.

The first colour is the glow from the torch of a man who asks Ponnu’s mother, “May I pass?” They stand aside and he rushes off. “Even until recently, nobody wanted Dalits to touch them,” says Rajeevan. The next stroke of colour comes in the aalta with which the theyyam decorates himself and the gold of his ornaments, but the colours are bleached of their sparkle. “The mood is dark because the film is about a rebellious art born out of oppression,” she says.

Her realistic sketches of Ponnu and her mother mix with the impressionistic depictions of the theyyam dancer and the faceless bird-like figures of society. “These are long-nosed, claw-edged people who always talk behind you, and never come into the light,” says the artist-filmmaker. The beats were recorded during theyyam performances on Rajeevan’s Kasaragod trip, but it is Pottam Theyyam’s dying words that form the musical leitmotif.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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