Kerala’s Chief Secretary, The Movie ‘Kuruvi Paapa’ & A Mohiniyattam Dancer — The Many Stories Of Colourism
In India, women not only have to fight gender bias and prove themselves by breaking the glass ceiling but also face colour-based discrimination, a battle that is often even more insidious
Colour plays a powerful role in Indian society and Kerala chief secretary Sarada Muraleedharan’s fight against the stigma attached to dark skin is just one of many. A similar battle was fought by a Kerala restaurateur, KK Basheer, who was so pained by his daughter’s struggles with discrimination that he decided to make a film about it. His movie, Kuruvi Paappa (Little Sparrow), released last year on a modest budget of Rs 2.6 crore, addressed the very issue of colourism.
The film explores the harsh reality of body shaming and how a tenth-grader battles both physical and psychological struggles due to societal perceptions of beauty.
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At its core, however, it is a story of resilience, with parents standing by their daughter in her fight.
The Kerala chief secretary’s post also highlights this very fight she had to endure—an issue that has overshadowed the work she has done for the state as a serving IAS officer.
The Deep-Rooted Issue of Colourism
In India, lighter skin has long been associated with beauty and privilege. Muraleedharan’s recent social media post directly confronted this bias, sparking an important conversation about self-worth and societal prejudices.
Women not only have to fight gender bias and prove themselves by breaking the glass ceiling but also face colour-based discrimination, a battle that is often even more insidious. Muraleedharan recalled asking her mother at the age of four if she could be “put back in the womb and be born all white and pretty".
Sharing her personal experience, she highlighted the painful reality of growing up in a society where skin colour often determines how one is treated.
“It was about being labelled black (with that quiet subtext of being a woman), as if that were something to be desperately ashamed of. Black is as black does. Not just black the colour, but black the ne’er-do-good, black the malaise, the cold despotism, the heart of darkness," she wrote in her post.
A friend and renowned Mohiniyattam dancer, Dr Neena Prasad, told News18: “She is one of the most beautiful and graceful people I have known."
“Sarada chechi (sister) has such beautiful features, and the way she conducts herself with such poise and grace is admirable. She is an ethnic icon when she wears a crisp cotton saree, and it is inspiring to see how she has been able to display her true talents despite the challenges she mentioned," said Prasad, adding that she has known her for a long time.
Recalling Sarada’s wedding, the chief secretary’s mother had shared with Prasad about how she detested expensive things, be it gold, and even at her wedding she not ready to wear a gold chain. “Such was her simplicity and grace and that is what makes her what she is today. Her jewel was her skin tone, her features, her accomplishments, and her sheer determination," said the noted danseuse.
From Real Life to Reel Life
Basheer’s Kuruvi Paappa reflects the same struggle. The protagonist, based on his daughter, is a student at Kalamassery Government Vocational HSS in Kochi, constantly reminded by friends and family that “fair is beautiful and dark is ugly". The pressure took such a toll that she once poured hot water on her face, unable to bear the weight of the discrimination. It was this traumatic incident that made Basheer and his wife Jasmin step in to support their daughter, encouraging her to participate in reality shows to boost her confidence. But the trauma remained unaddressed.
Basheer’s second daughter, Kuruvi, cannot recall when she first started feeling inferior, but growing up, she dreamed of becoming an actress. Her school years were marked by challenges, as she faced relentless body shaming over her skin colour and frame. Despite this, she took up dance at the age of five. However, her talent was often overlooked, with people judging her by her appearance rather than her ability. She not only endured harsh comments but also missed out on opportunities to perform at several venues because of her complexion and slim physique.
With her parents’ support, her life story was made into a film. The same friends who once mocked her complexion now admire her and stand by her as she pursues her passion and education.
Chief secretary Muraleedharan’s post echoes this very sentiment. She recalled a moment when someone compared her leadership to that of her husband, former chief secretary Dr V Venu, saying, “It is as black as my husband’s was white." Though she initially deleted her post, she later reposted it after encouragement from well-wishers, she said.
The Sathyabhama Controversy: Another Face of Discrimination
The colour bias debate has a similar example in Kerala where an incident took place last year.
Senior Mohiniyattam dancer Kalamandalam Sathyabhama faced backlash for her alleged racist remarks against fellow artiste Dr RLV Ramakrishnan during a YouTube interview.
Sathyabhama is reportedly heard saying, “The person who performs Mohiniyattam should be ‘mohini’ (enchanting). He has the colour of a crow… This is an art form that requires a stance that keeps the legs wide apart. There is nothing more repulsive than a man who performs with his legs wide apart in this manner."
She further stated, “Men should perform Mohiniyattam only if they are that good-looking… But his looks are unbearable."
Ramakrishnan, a well-known Mohiniyattam dancer and brother of the late actor Kalabhavan Mani, alleged that this was directed at him and called out Sathyabhama’s remarks as racist.
He said she has repeatedly questioned his qualifications and that the statement was clearly aimed at him.
In response, he said: “I completed my studies at RLV College, secured first rank in MA Mohiniyattam from MG University, topped MPhil, and earned a PhD from Kalamandalam." He also pointed out that caste discrimination plays a major role in such biases, making it difficult for Scheduled Caste artistes to thrive in classical dance.
Sathyabhama denied Ramakrishnan’s allegations, claiming that she did not name anyone specifically and that the statements she made were her personal opinions.
“I have not taken any names in the interview. What I have said in the interview is my opinion, and I stand by that. I don’t have any regrets," she said.
“If you look at dance from a performance perspective, a dark-skinned person looks more beautiful on stage as their features stand out—their eyes, their nose, and their expressions are unbeatable. More than 80 per cent of the children in my dance school are dark-complexioned, and I am often asked whether I select them like that. I am amused by that question but also proud that I am able to get such talented young dancers of all ages. I find that the most attractive on stage, and that is why we see so many accomplished artistes sharing the same skin tone," Prasad explained.
However, the issue sparked a major outrage in Kerala as leaders, including ministers Saji Cheriyan, Veena George, R Bindu, opposition leader VD Satheesan, and BJP state chief K Surendran, condemned Sathyabhama’s comments. Even the Kerala Kalamandalam, a premier institution for Kerala’s artistic heritage, criticised her remarks. The Kerala State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) also initiated a case against the 66-year-old dancer.
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