Initial Brief

Design a narrative that will document and tell a story based on the art form

"theyyam" which will reach the media now. Thereis a need to preserve this valuable cultural heritage for future generations to understand and appreciate. This project aims to document and promote the artform through media.

In my first year in design school, this was the initial brief for my final design project.

From this i decided to create a book which tells theyyam through my eyes.

About the book

This book explains and tells the stories of the three theyyams i photographed and documented in three days. this book is set in kannur, kerala in india. the protagonist is me and i tell my perspective of theyyam through this book.

Theyyam is a vibrant and old ritualistic art form that has its roots in kerala›s northern region of india. it is a unique blend of dance, music, and religious worship, strongly steeped in the traditional traditions and beliefs of the region. theyyam is renowned for its lavish attire, striking makeup, and stirring performances.

the word "theyyam" is derived from the malayalam word deivam, which means god or deity. in theyyam, performers, usually from lower castes, transform themselves into the deities or spirits they portray. each theyyam performance represents a specific deity or ancestral spirit and is believed to bring blessings, healing, and protection to the community. theyyam is incredibly important to the local populations and is firmly engrained in kerala›s sociocultural fabric. for both the artists and the audience, it is not merely a kind of entertainment but also a spiritual and religious experience. the performances frequently represent mythological tales, historical incidents, and folktales, giving an insight into the regions rich cultural past.

Research

For research and documentation, I went to Kannur, Kerala.

Interview Summery

During an interview with sreenath prabhakar, a theyyam researcher from iit bombay.

He said - "Today travel is part of a pop culture. younger generation find it exciting to travel to different places and explore their culture. Making something for them to get a starting of theyyam would make them actually do it."