Rishab Shetty’s Kannada film “Kantara” has turned into a sleeper hit across India. It managed to enthrall audiences and keep them coming back to the theatres by excellent word-of-mouth reviews. There was very little promotional spending, if any. Its Pan-Indian appeal and success, appears to be the subject matter of the movie and the way in which it is presented.
The “Daiva Narthaka” is an animistic ritual dance performed in Tulu Nadu and parts of Malénadu of Karnataka and Kasargod in Northern Kerala. The film showcases this local Hindu practice and dance form as an integral part of the religious and cultural footprint of coastal Karnataka. The film proudly presents a long-surviving, unapologetic Hindu practice and custom from coastal Karnataka. It evokes a sense of awe, wonder and nostalgia of the unique native, local, Hindu beliefs.
The Narthakas and the “Bhoota Kola” tradition is central to the film, which presents it beautifully and sensitively, bringing India’s attention to little known Hindu customs and instilling in the audience, a curiosity for other local, native practices and rituals.
On Thursday, Bengaluru MP PC Mohan tweeted that the Karnataka state government has announced ₹2,000 monthly allowances for Daiva Narthakas above 60 years of age. While acknowledging the film for highlighting the cultural aspect of Daiva Narthakas, the politician tweeted, “Adoring Daivas, dance, and divine intervention.”
Adoring Daivas, dance, and divine intervention.
The BJP-led #Karnataka government has announced a Rs 2,000 monthly allowance for ‘Daiva Narthakas’ above 60 years of age.
Bhoota Kola, a spirit worship ritual depicted in the movie #Kantara is part of Hindu Dharma.@shetty_rishab pic.twitter.com/ll4aO1uwQp
— P C Mohan (@PCMohanMP) October 20, 2022
The Bhoota Kola dance ritual is highly stylized and held in honor of the local deities worshiped by the Tulu speaking population. It has also influenced the popular Karnataka folk-theatre art form of “Yakshagana” . Bhoota Kola is closely related to Theyyam of neighbouring Malayalam speaking populations.
The term Bhoota Kola is derived from būta (Tulu for ‘spirit’, ‘deity’) and kōla (Tulu for ‘play, performance, festival’, or ‘shape/form’). A būta kōla or “nema” is typically an annual ritual performance where local spirits or deities (būtas, daivas) are being channelised by ritual specialists from certain scheduled castes such as the Nalike, Pambada, or Parawa communities. The būta cult is prevalent among the non-Brahmin Tuluvas of Tulu Nadu region.
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