… his release from military service, he worked as a radio drama editor and as editor of publications at the Jewish …

… a special, extremely melismatic melody that conveys the drama of the angels imploring God to intercede and prevent …

… me that the tune was also adapted for a song in a Malayalam drama about alcoholism—a drama that was performed during the same period by Jewish …

… This hit song appeared first in the very popular Malayalam drama “You Made Me a Communist”— produced by the Kerala …

… death by chamber pot are decidedly in the style of Purim dramas from other Jewish cultures, as well as that of many Kerala folk dramas. As in the previous song, the question-and-answer … line in each stanza adds a foot-stamping rhythm to the drama and humor of the performance. Sixteen variants of “The …

… He was taken and hanged. Through a mix of narration and dramatic scenes, this song conveys key events in the … a chanting quality, perhaps borrowed from a Chavittunatakam drama. This facilitates the ongoing narrative, as does the … in which the Jewish singers told me about these dramas and how they used to be performed by the Christian …

… to the durbar (royal court) scenes in Chavittunatakam folk dramas, in which the raja displays his wealth to tributary … Chapter 1 and related midrash, the song also offers a dramatic story about the daughter of Haman, elaborating on a … satiric remarks and questions to the audience. Melodramatic descriptions of the raging king, his “mourning …

… they performed. Though less compelling than the intense drama and lively melodies of “Joseph the Righteous” ( song …

… dialogue probably echoed elements of Malayalam folk and drama songs of the early 1930s, the time during which at …

… of worship and of lamps and oil for lighting them; the drama of the villainous Attangad ruler who steals the wood …

… (Golden Sickle), a tune from a popular Malayalam musical drama of the period. It celebrates the renewed possibility …

… (1949), which was also adapted for a Malayalam musical drama criticizing drunkenness. The Jewish version was sung …