Kithaab

For other uses, see Kithaab (disambiguation).

Kithaab
Written byRafeeq Mangalassery
Date premieredNovember 2018 (2018-11)
Place premieredVadakara (Kerala, India)
Original languageMalayalam language
SubjectGender justice for Muslim women
GenreHumorous, Teen drama

Kithaab, also Kitab (Malayalam: കിത്താബ്, lit. 'Book'), is a Malayalam-language play featuring a humorous portrayal of a young girl who dreams of calling out the Azaan (vaang), the Islamic call to worship normally recited by a male muezzin or mukri. The girl questions the subjugation of women in her community, and rebels against community norms by dancing with her friends, stealing food denied to her, and demanding the opportunity to call the vaang.[1][2]

The play is written by scriptwriter-director Rafeeq Mangalassery.[3][4][5] It was released in November 2018 in the Indian state of Kerala, at a time when the women's rights movement was taking shape, asking for the right to worship in Sabarimala temple; for Muslim women's right to participate in religious rituals; and for gender equality in religious spaces, including the appointment of women as Imams, and participating in and leading prayers at mosques.[1]

  1. ^ a b Devasia, TK (26 November 2018). "In Kerala's Kozhikode, a play about a girl who dreams about giving azaan call has Muslim conservatives up in arms". Firstpost. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  2. ^ "Kozhikode School Withdraws Play Calling out Gender Disparity After Muslim Groups Protest". The Wire. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  3. ^ "Kozhikode: SDPI, MSF up in arms against Kithab". Deccan Chronicle. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  4. ^ "Play showing girl performing 'azaan' raises conservatives' ire". The Times of India. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  5. ^ Jayanth, A. s (5 December 2018). "Campaign for Kithaab takes off". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 16 January 2019.