Himvanta at 19:16, 28 February 2026

2026-02-28T19:16:43Z

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{{Short description|2018 Malayalam-language play}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox play
| name = Kithaab
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| writer = [[Rafeeq Mangalassery]]
| chorus =
| characters =
| mute =
| setting =
| premiere = {{Start date|df=y|2018|11}}
| place = [[Vatakara|Vadakara]] ([[Kerala]], [[India]])
| orig_lang = [[Malayalam language]]
| subject = [[Gender equality|Gender justice]] for [[Muslim women]]
| genre = [[Humorous]], [[Teen drama]]
| web =
}}

'''''Kithaab''''', also '''''Kitab''''' ({{lit|Book}}), is a Malayalam-language [[Play (theatre)|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 [[Misogyny|subjugation of women]] in [[Women in Islam|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.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/in-keralas-kozhikode-a-play-about-a-girl-who-dreams-about-giving-azaan-call-has-muslim-conservatives-up-in-arms-5620311.html|title=In Kerala's Kozhikode, a play about a girl who dreams about giving azaan call has Muslim conservatives up in arms|website=Firstpost|first=TK|last=Devasia|date=26 November 2018| access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewire.in/culture/kozhikode-school-play-muslims-kithab|title=Kozhikode School Withdraws Play Calling out Gender Disparity After Muslim Groups Protest|website=The Wire|date=3 December 2018|access-date=16 January 2019|archive-date=17 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417232956/https://thewire.in/culture/kozhikode-school-play-muslims-kithab|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The play is written by scriptwriter-director Rafeeq Mangalassery.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/251118/kozhikode-sdpi-msf-up-in-arms-against-kithab.html|title=Kozhikode: SDPI, MSF up in arms against Kithab|date=25 November 2018|website=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/play-showing-girl-performing-azaan-raises-conservatives-ire/articleshow/66791980.cms|title=Play showing girl performing 'azaan' raises conservatives' ire|website=The Times of India|date=25 November 2018|access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/cultural-activists-launch-campaign-for-kithaab/article25672943.ece|title=Campaign for Kithaab takes off|date=5 December 2018|work=The Hindu|access-date=16 January 2019|last=Jayanth|first=A. s|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> 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 [[Entry of women to Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple|worship in Sabarimala temple]]; for [[Muslim women's rights in India|Muslim women's right]] to participate in religious rituals; and for [[gender equality]] in religious spaces, including the appointment of women as [[Imam]]s, and participating in and leading prayers at mosques.<ref name=":2" />

==Inspiration==
Rafeeq Mangalassery said his drama ''Kithaab'' was not directly based on the story of Vaangu, but was an independent adaptation inspired by [[Unni R.]]'s story "Vaangu". However, Unni R. distanced himself from Mangalassery's drama, saying it was not in tune with his ideas and was lacking in spiritual value.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://english.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/2018/12/07/elippetti-replaces-kitab-state-school-art-fete.html|title=Controversial play 'Kitab' dropped from Kerala school art festival|website=OnManorama|access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref> Malayalam director [[V. K. Prakash]] and Kavya Prakash also had an independent plan to adapt Unni R.'s story "Vaangu" for a [[Vaanku (film)|film of the same name]], which was subsequently released in January 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://malayalam.indianexpress.com/entertainment/unni-r-short-story-vanku-to-be-adapted-on-screen-by-v-k-prakash-daughter-kavya-prakash-shabna-mohammed/|title=Unni R short story Vanku to be adapted on screen by V K Prakash daughter Kavya Prakash Shabna Mohammed: വാങ്ക് വിളിക്കാൻ ആഗ്രഹിച്ച റസിയയുടെ കഥ സിനിമയാകുന്നു: ഉണ്ണി ആറിന്റെ കഥയ്ക്ക് ദൃശ്യഭാഷ്യമൊരുക്കാന്‍ രണ്ടു പെണ്‍കുട്ടികള്‍|website=The Indian Express|access-date=17 January 2019}}</ref>

==Plot==
A Muslim girl wishes to become a muezzin like her father and to call out the azaan. She steals the fried fish her mother cooks for the men in the house and says that doing so is not morally wrong because Padachon (creator-god) would understand that girls are not given enough food. Her father then censures her, telling her that women should get only half of everything that men have. To this, the girl impishly asks why then women shouldn't wear only half of what men do.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/following-protests-muslim-groups-kozhikode-school-withdraws-students-play-92594|title=Following protests by Muslim groups Kozhikode school withdraws students play|website=thenewsminute.com|first=Sreedevi|last= Jayarajan|date=2 December 2018|access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref>

Amidst these struggles, she expresses her wish to call out the azaan. Her father answers all her queries by referring to a big book (Kithab), and he locks her away so she would not perform in a play (a play within the play) again. He tells her she will not reach heaven if she continues to do such things.<ref name=":0" />

"If I'd lose entry to heaven because I sing and dance, then I don't want that heaven," she says. The father is even ready to kill the girl when she performs at the school play despite his wishes. When her mother reminds him that he is not just the muezzin, but also a father, he allows her to call out the azaan, and the drama ends with the girl calling out the [[Adhan|azaan]] and the rest praying.<ref name=":0" />

==Controversy==
[[Memunda]] Higher secondary school in rural [[Kozhikode district|Kozhikode]] staged a drama for interschool competition at district level in [[Vatakara|Vadakara]], which won prizes for best drama and best actress at district level, and was supposed to continue to the [[Kerala]] state level interschool competition. ''Kithaab'' portrays social discrimination against women on various issues in the traditional Muslim family. Many topics such as discrimination against girls in the provision of food, poor education, and the practice of polygamy are discussed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2018/dec/11/after-dropped-by-school-kalolsavam-kithaab-to-be-staged-across-kerala-1909761.html|title=After dropped by school Kalolsavam, 'Kithaab' to be staged across Kerala|website=The New Indian Express|first=Ajith|last=Kannan|date=11 December 2018|access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref> Since the drama deals with [[Gender equality|gender justice]] in the context of Islam, it was opposed, and Memunda Higher secondary school's participation in the completion was successfully stalled by religio-political orthodoxy and conservatives invoking faith issues.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /> The play triggered discussion on [[gender equality]] and [[religious intolerance]]. The drama was staged separately and performed at a later date.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marunadanmalayali.com/news/special-report/kithab-the-controversial-drama-turns-out-to-be-a-superhit-131709|title=ക്ലബുകളും വായനശാലകളും സാംസ്കാരിക സംഘടനകളും ഏറ്റടുത്തു; ബാലസംഘവും ഡിവൈഎഫ്ഐയും നാടകം പ്...|website=marunadanmalayali.com|access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref>

Subsequently, a [[Whataboutism|whataboutery]] counter-play named ''Kithabile Koora'' was also performed on the Malayalam stage, with a female character who seeks freedom of religion. One of the Malayalam theatre activists, Abbas Kalathode, while not enthusiastic about the counter-play either, criticized Mangalassery's ''Kithaab'' for not considering a number of recent far-reaching changes in the Muslim community. "Portraying a mukri as the villain in the community is an understatement because other villains have emerged among Muslims," he added. Mangalassery disagreed, replying: "It is not correct to say that the Muslim community has registered a steady progress in social life. There could be changes among Muslims as in other communities. But regressive forces have also started dominating. [[Purdah]], which was the dress of a negligible minority in Kerala, has now become the identity of Muslim women. I know mukri is only an employee in the mosque but he represents the clergy, whose vice-like grip has strengthened among Muslims. The play ends with opening of new vistas for the community."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/purdah-phobia/|title=Purdah phobia|date=1 December 2018|website=Times of India Blog|access-date=17 January 2019}}</ref> "Here the background is that of a Muslim family, and hence it tells Muslim life. There is no attempt to insult any particular religion," said Mangalassery.<ref name=":4" />

Activists and writers including [[K. Satchidanandan|K Satchidanandan]] and [[S. Hareesh|S Hareesh]] voiced their opposition against exclusion of ''Kithaab'' at the state festival. In a joint statement they condemned the interference of religious organizations on [[Kerala reformation movement|reformative renaissance]] values and [[freedom of expression]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> Cinematographer [[Prathap Joseph]] conducted a social media campaign claiming that the withdrawal of the play was a "threat to [[renaissance]] values and freedom of expression".

[[A. Santha Kumar]], playwright, wrote via Facebook that "the school has washed its hands by withdrawing the play and surrendering to the dictates of religious leaders. He complains that they have also isolated the author of the play, Rafeeq Mangalassery." Kumar asked why those who speak volumes about "renaissance values" were silent about the isolation of Mangalassery at the hands of "[[Fundamentalism|minority fundamentalism]]".<ref name=":1" />

==Rafeeq Mangalassery==
Rafeeq Mangalassery is a Malayalam-language script writer and director from Chettippadi ([[Malappuram]] Kerala) in India. His drama ''Annaperuna'' depicts wastage of food while many others go hungry.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/the-show-will-go-on-with-aplomb/article22392357.ece|title=The show will go on, with aplomb|last=Krishnakumar|first=G.|date=7 January 2018|work=The Hindu|access-date=16 January 2019|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He also directed ''Kottem Kareem''.<ref name=":4" />

He won the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Drama]] for ''Jinnu Krishnan'' in 2013<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/pdf/Akademi%20Award%20-%202013_final.pdf|title=2013–ലെ കേരള സാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി അവാര്‍ഡുകള്‍ പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു|date=20 December 2014|website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi|access-date=18 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613132951/http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/pdf/Akademi%20Award%20-%202013_final.pdf|archive-date=13 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Sahitya-Akademi-award-for-Meeras-Aarachar/articleshow/45583043.cms|title=Sahitya Akademi award for Meera's 'Aarachar'|website=The Times of India|date=20 December 2014|access-date=18 January 2019}}</ref> and [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi]] award for best script for ''Iratta Jeevithangaliloode'' (''Through the Twin Lives'').<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/beedi-wins-best-short-play-award-of-akademi/article23816629.ece|title=Beedi wins best short play award of akademi|author=Staff Reporter|date=8 May 2018|work=The Hindu|access-date=16 January 2019|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of Indian writers]]
* [[Feminist children's literature]]
* [[Islam in Kerala]]
* [[Islamic Bill of Rights for Women in the Mosque]]
* [[Islamic feminism]]
* [[Islamic Modernism]]
* [[Kerala reformation movement]]
* [[Liberalism and progressivism within Islam]]
* [[Malayalam literature]]
* [[Religion in Kerala]]
* [[Women in Islam]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|India|Literature}}

[[Category:Women's rights in Islam]]
[[Category:Women's rights in India]]
[[Category:Theatre in Kerala]]
[[Category:2018 plays]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language plays]]
[[Category:Feminist literature]]
[[Category:Children's theatre]]

Kithaab - Revision history

Himvanta at 19:16, 28 February 2026