‘Still I Rise’ by Meera George, curated by Arshiya Lokhandwala

YFLO Delhi collaborated with Shalini Paasi Art Foundation, MAASH, for a special viewing of Meera George’s live performance, Still I Rise. The performance was about a 19th-century woman named Nangeli, who belonged to the Ezhava community in Kerala. This community required women to pay a “breast tax” in order to cover their breasts. Nangeli had cut off her breast to avoid paying the tax. The sacrifice of Nangeli, as well as that of the other two women protagonists of this piece, Thatri and Unniyarcha, was instrumental in bringing the progressive wave to Kerala. And it was their story that was enacted by Meera on the stage.

The artist further takes a dig at such social ills by incorporating largely male-dominated art forms—such as Kathakali, Kalaripayattu and Chavittu Nadakam—into her performance. to portray strong emotions on stage.

This 4-act operatic performance within the genre of contemporary art was a tightly packed dramatic powerful performance that speaks volume for the strength and resilience of women through time.