, the divine dance where the performer becomes god, has been used repeatedly to explore themes of power, vengeance, and tribal identity. In Ammakkilikoodu (1976) and more strikingly in Ozhivudivasathe Kali (2015), the Theyyam ritual is a cathartic release for the oppressed—a moment where the lower caste, adorned in divine red, can look the upper caste landowner in the eye without flinching.