On the 11th death anniversary of Malayalam actor Thilakan, the Museum of Kerala History at Edappally, Kochi presented a lecture on caste politics and representation in early Malayalam cinema.
Under the lecture series “Janal Talks”, and Titled “Skin: A Surface History of Caste in Early Malayalam Cinema”, and delivered by Dr Bindu Menon Mannil, it attracted people across the city to attend.
Dr Bindu’s talk examined the visible representation of caste and community through the picture board illustrations of Ramavarma Appan Thampuran’s proposed film, Bhootarayar.
The lecture explored the visual genealogy of casting the body on screen and how the embellishment of certain physical attributes highlighted the caste of a character.
While the film was never made, its preparations (1937) gave birth to the first picture board made in the region by Appan Thampuran and an unknown local artist.
“The sketches are a method of representation,” Dr Bindu shared, revealing that each character is explored by detailing elements that are associated with their social type.