Suresh Achoos
Director / Producer
Official Selection · Competition Short Documentary
25–30 September 2026
Embodied Deities
Daivakkolangal
A documentary on Thirayattam, caste, faith, and the man beneath the divine form.
A Dalit daily wage worker becomes a living deity during temple festivals, worshipped by the same society that denies him dignity once the costume is removed.
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About the film
When the divine form disappears, the man beneath remains unseen.
Daivakkolangal – Embodied Deities explores Thirayattam in South Malabar, Kerala, through the life of Gopi, a daily wage worker and Dalit Thirayattam performer.
During the festival season, Gopi transforms into a divine form in sacred groves, kavus, and temples. Devotees bow before him, seek blessings, and receive prasadam from his hands.
But when the performance ends, the divine form disappears. The man beneath the costume returns to a life shaped by poverty, caste exclusion, and social invisibility.
When the oppressed are needed to become God, why are they denied dignity as human beings?
Festival Selection
Official Selection
Competition
Short Documentary
Daivakkolangal – Embodied Deities has been selected for the competition section of the 18th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala.
- Festival
- 18th IDSFFK
- Dates
- 25–30 September 2026
- Location
- Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
- Director
- Suresh Achoos
Screening date and venue will be updated when the official schedule is announced.
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Team & Credits
Prakash Bare
Producer
Priya Nikhil
Producer
Shibeesh K Chandran
Creative Consultant
Film Credits
- Featuring
- Gopi
- Director / Producer
- Suresh Achoos
- Producers
- Prakash Bare, Priya Nikhil
- Creative Consultant
- Shibeesh K Chandran
- Executive Producer
- Diljit Gore
- Cinematography
- Sushob Nellikkode
- Editor
- Francis Louis
- Music
- Ajoy Jose
- Sound Design
- Shyju M
- Production Company
- Grains Media Pvt Ltd
- Creative / Post-Production Support
- AdGrains
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