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 & 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
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.’
The Team

Anjali Krishnadas
Mohiniyattam Dancer
Performing as Hidumbi in Otta

Ponnu Sanjeev
Mohiniyattam Dancer
Performing as Bhima in Otta

Tanuja
Performer

Sreenima
Performer

Sreeshma
Performer

Vishupriya
Performer

Shishira
Performer

Aparna
Performer

Vishnu Sivasankar
Music Composed, Arranged and Produced

Ganesh Malayalath
Lyrics & Dialogues

Kishan Sreebal
Mixing & Mastering

Chimmu Jayakumar
Vocal

JR
Live Precrussion

Mahesh Madhu
Light Executing
Gallery












in association with