Cultural Dilution: Kathakali Cameo and Its Authenticity In The God Of Small Things

AbstractKathakali, a popular traditional dance-drama of Kerala, has been embedded insacred origins, folklore, piety, and artistic discipline. It was performed intemples and intensely tangled with spiritual narratives. However, ArundhatiRoy’s The God of Small Things presents a stark reality of its commodificationby showing how this sacred art form is repackaged for capitalist consumption.This paper explores how Kathakali is reduced to a marketable myth for visitors.The novel focuses on the economic plight of Kathakali performers who wereforced to sell their craft for monetary benefits and existence. Their cameoperformances stood asa metaphor for broader themes of cultural exploitation,marginalization, and the persistent influence of neoliberalism in postcolonialIndia. This paper examines the predicaments of art, commerce, and power. Itfurther aims to interrogate whether cultural traditions can preserve theirauthenticity in this commodified world.Key Words: Kathakali, commodification, capitalist consumption,marginalization, cultural exploitation, neoliberalism, and authenticity.