The Devakkoothu tapestry: exploring the variances and parallels in Chayilyam and Apsara folklore

Saranya Jayaprakash A and Senguttuvan M ()
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Saranya Jayaprakash A: Vellore Institute of Technology
Senguttuvan M: Vellore Institute of Technology

Palgrave Communications, 2025, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract The representation of female characters in popular culture within the framework of folklore and traditional art forms has been a trending arena in literature in recent years. Unearthing indigenous culture and unveiling the hidden propaganda sheds light on the contexts and concepts shared through such discourses. This paper is a vivacious discussion about the sacred ritual called Devakkoothu and its portrayal in the Malayalam movie Chayilyam. Through Wendy Doniger’s studies of Hindu mythology and religion, this article also examines how women are portrayed in the ritual and the movie. The analysis examines how Devakkoothu simultaneously reflects and subverts established gender roles and societal expectations, drawing on Doniger’s work on the fluidity of gender roles, the interplay between the sacred and the profane, and the inherent ambiguity within Hindu narratives. In the framework of a caste-based and gender-driven traditional culture, it explores the objectification and stereotypical constructions of female characters while also pointing out the empowering and illuminating metaphors and symbols that have been recreated through folklore. The study also looks at how the Devakkoothu tradition reflects and challenges the themes of trauma and double oppression that women experience in patriarchal societies.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-05297-7

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