Otta

THE RESILIENCE AND SURVIVAL

What is otta?

The essence of ‘Otta’ lies in the resilience of a people who had to constantly wage battles for their own survival. It talks about the resilience of those people who continue to be deliberately cast aside from the social, political and cultural spaces that exist ever so casually for many. This resilience holds in itself, the strength of a community deceived by power and power structures, forcing them to bring out their strongest weapon – resistance.

‘Otta – Resilience and survival’ is told through the stories of Hidumbi, Bhima and Ghatotkaja, characters from Mahabharata. While the stories of Hidumbi and Bhima are portrayed through the dance form Mohiniyattam, team Thudippu employs a novel approach of using Kalarippayattu – a martial art – to bring Ghatotkaja to life.

Features and News

മാതൃഭൂമി ന്യൂസ്

കല ഒറ്റയ്ക്ക് പോരാടുന്നവരുടെ ശബ്ദം; കളരിയും മോഹിനിയാട്ടവും സമന്വയിപ്പിച്ച് തുടിപ്പ് ഡാൻസ് അക്കാദമി

the hindu

Dance-theatre production ‘Otta-Nilanilppinte Prathirodham’ discusses the resilience of the oppressed through characters from the Mahabharata

Kalam News

വിവേചനത്തിനെതിരായ ഒറ്റയാൾപ്പോരാട്ടം ‘ഒറ്റ’ അരങ്ങേറി. കളരിയും മോഹിനിയാട്ടവും സമന്വയിക്കുന്ന നൂതനകലാവിഷ്ക്കാരം

Speciality of Otta

The possibilities of using flexible, powerful Kalarippayattu body movements as a vocabulary to depict the character of Ghatotkaja is thoroughly explored, while the team travels through new realms in Mohiniyattam to bring out the characters of Bhima and Hidumbi. Conventionally known as a lasya dance form, Mohiniyattam sees a fresh perspective through its portrayal in ‘Otta’. While both Mohiniyattam and Kalarippayattu are distinct art forms that have their own styles that are even poles apart from each other, ultimately, the essence of the two forms converges into one. This realization of shared energies is the inspiration to create ‘Otta.’