NEDUMANGAD: At a tender age of five, when little Akash was watching ‘Ottam thullal’ lying on his mother’s lap, the performer pointed his fingers at the child and sang aloud, ‘’markada ne angu mari kidakkeda.’’ The little boy felt hurt thinking that it was a calculated move by the performer to humiliate him. However, the child born in a Muslim family resolved to learn the art. That trifle incident, perhaps, was the beginning of the making of a talent who mastered an art form which has lost its glory over a period of time. ‘’Ottam thullal provides a perfect canvas for the artists to innovate and interact with the audiences in a distinctive manner. Sarcasm has a vivid role in the art form and it helps scoff at current social issues, which is a unique speciality of the art. I felt the heat years back. So, I perform at every venue I gets,’’ said Akash Rafeek, born to Rafeek and Saidha of Kilimanoor. Akash’s mother, who accompanied her son, was totally complacent of her son’s performance. According to her, the child is now emulating the feats performed by his father while he was a young boy. ‘’He performed Villadichan Pattu and had earned a repute in his younger days. Akash resembles his father in that aspect, but he chose a different field that only a few dares to tread,,’’ she said. She admits that she had to face some objections from her father-in-law and mother-in-law over her son’s foray into totally unknown field. But, after the initial bumpy ride, things started looking up and the relatives began appreciating the boy for his performance. ‘’Occasionally he gets invited to perform at temples and he obliges. The art is beyond religious barriers and the society has accepted the boy’s love for the art,’’ she said. Thamarakudi Karunakaran master, under whom Akash is currently being trained, testifies that the boy is a born talent. ‘’Now he is in 10th standard. If he can concentrate more on practising, he could earn a name. Ottam thullal is slowly regaining its lost prestige. So, he can make a living out of that if he works hard,’’ the guru said. Akash is studying at Kilimanoor GHSS
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