Cultural Appropriation and Aesthetic Transformation of Telangana Dhoom Dham
Keywords:
Telangana, Jana Natya Mandali, Political Propaganda, Protest Music, Aesthetic Transformation, Cultural Appropriation, Telangana Movement, Dhoom DhamAbstract
The paper examines the transformation of Dhoom Dham, a protest art form in Telangana, into a tool for political propaganda after the state's formation. Dhoom Dham, a form of protest art, emerged during the second phase of the Telangana statehood movement in the 2000s, combining folk performances, songs, and skits to mobilize public sentiments and critique political actors. Its origins are rooted in Telangana's rich folk traditions and incorporate revolutionary aesthetics inspired by leftist cultural movements like Jana Natya Mandali. Post-2014, political parties like TRS, BJP, and INC co-opted Dhoom Dham for electoral agendas. The paper highlights how protest art forms can be co-opted and depoliticized by dominant power structures, alienating cultural labour from its revolutionary roots and reducing it to a tool for political gain.