E45: Kutti Revathi - When women stand up against body politics

Dr. Revathi, or Kutti Revathi as she is often known as, is my first guest on the podcast that I’m talking to for the second time. The last time I spoke to her was a decade ago, and the issues that mattered to her then matter even today. She is a prominent Tamil poet, writer and lyricist whose works have largely centered on body politics and oppression.

Her second work, Mulaigal (Breasts), published in 2002, that spoke about female sexuality and the use of Tamil words like mulaigal and yoni (vagina) enraged certain sections of the society (read male writers) that they called for Revathi’s book to be burnt followed by threats and discussions about her morality. But Revathi has since then gone on to publish more works and also started Panikkudam (Amniotic Sac), first Tamil feminist magazine.

Revathi received Sigaram 15: Faces of Future award for literature from India Today and was one of the four women poets whose works were translated into English to highlight its prominence by Harper Collins. She has also penned lyrics for A.R.Rahman. New episode coming out.

In this episode, we talk about many pertinent topics such as:
- Why women's bodies are constantly regulated
- How regional poetry is a tool to dissent
- Meeting legendary poet Mahasweta Devi and what she learnt from her
- Regional poets in India vs. poets who write in English
- How translation has helped bring the issue of body politics resonate further
- Working as first time lyricist with A.R.Rahman

To listen to the entire podcast, click the link below:
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