Overview
- V. K. Sreeraman posted a social-media apology saying his earlier words were immature and caused distress to Pulikali artistes and those associated with the tradition.
- His original post had called Thrissur’s Pulikali an “artistic distortion that makes one nauseous,” prompting organised complaints from Pulikali troupes and local organisers who called the remarks body‑shaming and demanded a withdrawal and apology.
- Sreeraman said a social-media comment that contrasted Thrissur’s carnival-style Pulikali with Kasaragod’s martial-art variant prompted him to rethink his view and he urged organisers to work on the performance’s presentation.
- The state government responded to the controversy by raising direct financial support for Pulikali teams to ₹1 lakh and promising measures to protect the art form and artists’ welfare.
- Pulikali is a traditional Onam folk performance in which participants paint tiger-like bodies and dance to percussion, a practice that provides community identity and livelihoods and is central to Thrissur’s festival plans and a local bid for Guinness recognition.