{"id":279,"date":"2017-10-02T17:51:36","date_gmt":"2017-10-02T14:51:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/?p=279"},"modified":"2021-10-19T14:23:38","modified_gmt":"2021-10-19T11:23:38","slug":"tullal-a-semi-classical-one-man-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/tullal-a-semi-classical-one-man-show\/","title":{"rendered":"<em>Tullal<\/em>, A Semi-Classical One-Man Show"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 20%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-279 gallery-columns-5 gallery-size-full'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/in079.jpg'><img width=\"400\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/in079.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1021\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1021'>\n\t\t\t\t<em>Ottam tullal<\/em>, like other forms of <em>tullal<\/em>, is a one-man show <span>Jukka O. Miettinen<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>\n\t\t\t<br style='clear: both' \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><i>Tullal<\/i> (\u201cjumping\u201d) refers to a form of one-man dance-theatre as well as to a literary tradition created for it. The tradition is said to have been invented by an exceptional actor-poet in the early 18<sup>th<\/sup> century. <i>Tullal<\/i> has three subcategories. All of them are characterised by a certain kind of poetry and dynamic performance style. In its straightforwardness <i>Tullal<\/i> represents folk theatre, which, however, employs elements of classical acting technique.<\/p>\n<h2>The History<\/h2>\n<p>It is generally thought that <i>tullal<\/i> was the invention of one man, Kuchan Nambiar, who was active in the mid-18<sup>th<\/sup> century. Legends surround this exceptional individual. Originally he was neither a professional dancer nor a poet. It is said that his genius lay in his inclination to become possessed. It seems, however, that he wrote dozens of <i>tullal<\/i> texts and was patronised by two rulers.<\/p>\n<h2>The Texts<\/h2>\n<p>As has already been mentioned, <i>tullal<\/i> refers both to theatrical genre as well as to the texts, written in Malayalam with a particular metric mode. Kuchan Nambiar used themes borrowed from the <i>Mahabharata<\/i>, the <i>Ramayana<\/i>, and other stories that already existed, but he gave the themes a surprisingly contemporary angle. Thus <i>tullal<\/i>, indeed, is a typical form of popular theatre, intended to be directly understood by all kinds of audiences.<\/p>\n<p>Later, several authors created <i>tullal<\/i> texts, but of the approximately 100 texts some ten are now actively performed, all of them attributed to Kuchan Nambiar.<\/p>\n<h2>The Music<\/h2>\n<p>Although <i>tullal<\/i> can be regarded as a form of popular theatre, its music is far from being simple. Rhythmically it is very intricate, while its singing style employs <i>Carnatic ragas<\/i>, although in simplified forms.<\/p>\n<h2>The Acting<\/h2>\n<p>\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 20%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-2 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-279 gallery-columns-5 gallery-size-full'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/in081.jpg'><img width=\"400\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/in081.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-1023\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-1023'>\n\t\t\t\tA <em>tullal<\/em> actor employs the mimetic <em>abhinaya<\/em> acting technique while he sings his lines at the same time <span>Jukka O. Miettinen<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>\n\t\t\t<br style='clear: both' \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<br \/>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-3 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-3 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 100%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-3 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-3 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-279 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/in080.jpg'><img width=\"640\" height=\"418\" src=\"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/in080.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-1022\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-3-1022'>\n\t\t\t\tA temporary <em>tullal<\/em> stage in front of a temple in Central Kerala <span>Jukka O. Miettinen<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p>Like most of the theatrical forms of Kerala, <i>tullal<\/i> is also generally performed in front of a large oil lamp. The stage is an empty space, and no hand-held curtains or any props are used. A performance usually lasts some two hours. The performances may take place in the daytime or in the evening. In both cases it is performed in front of a lightened oil lamp.<\/p>\n<p>Although <i>tullal<\/i> is predominately a verbal form of art, it employs, however, the gesture language derived from the local manual <i>Hasta Lakshanadeepika<\/i>. The gestures and the <i>abhinaya<\/i> mimetic acting, as a whole, are executed in a more or less sketchy manner.<\/p>\n<p>Thus the <i>tullal<\/i> style acting is a combination of <i>abhinaya<\/i> acting, dancing, and singing. It is a demanding technique, since the performer must sing and dance simultaneously. Besides that, he must be able to memorise long poems and be able to improvise on them.<\/p>\n<p>As in most of the theatrical styles of Kerala, the actual performance in <i>tullal<\/i> is also preceded by preliminary rituals and ceremonies. They include intricate <i>nrtta<\/i> or non-descriptive dances, one of them danced with the performer\u2019s back turned to the audience.<\/p>\n<h2>Types of Tullal<\/h2>\n<p>There are three types of <i>tullal<\/i> with their own costume and make-up styles. <i>Ottan tullal<\/i> is characterised by facial make-up similar to the <i>paccha<\/i> make-up of <i>kathakali<\/i>, with a green base and white borders made of rice paste <i>(chutti)<\/i>. The headgear is a kind of a crown in the form of a many-headed snake.<\/p>\n<p>The dancer in <i>parayan tullal<\/i> also wears headgear with a snake motif, but the make-up is simpler than in <i>ottan tullal<\/i>. The eyes are made expressive with black outlines while the dancer\u2019s body is covered with sandalwood paste.<\/p>\n<p>In <i>seetankan tullal<\/i> the costume bears similarities to the archaic <a href=\"http:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/teyyam-an-archaic-form-of-ritual-theatre\/\"><i>teyyam<\/i><\/a> costume<b><\/b>. The crown-like headgear is constructed from palm leaves while the ornaments resemble live flowers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tullal (\u201cjumping\u201d) refers to a form of one-man dance-theatre as well as to a literary tradition created for it. The tradition is said to have been invented by an exceptional actor-poet in the early 18th century. Tullal has three subcategories. All of them are characterised by a certain kind of poetry and dynamic performance style. [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2398,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=279"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3143,"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279\/revisions\/3143"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2398"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=279"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=279"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disco.teak.fi\/asia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=279"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}