Click to play videoNew Delhi: The face is painted green, the lips bold in red and the eyes are emphasized with black paint. Balakrishna Maraar is getting ready for an Ottan Thullal performance.
Often called the poor man's Kathakali, Ottan Thullal is a solo dance form created more than four centuries ago by Kalakath Kunjan Nambiar.
Through his dance, Nambiar presented satires on social evils. Though few today know about Ottan Thullal, it has been part P S Maraar and his son Balakrishna Maraar's life.
“I have been performing since I was 12-years-old,” says P S Maraar. Balakrishna Maraar has been performing since he was 4-years-old. "My father is my guru,” he says.
Performed by a single actor, Ottan Thullal is fast paced, but over the last few decades its has been dying a slow death.
“It is a tough dance form, because the dancer must be also be proficient with his singing skills,” says Balakrishna Maraar.
Kalacharya P S Maraar and his son have been keeping this art alive despite all odds and by performing at various shows, Maraar hopes to breathe new life into the dance form.
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