Jhansilin Sasi, focuses on the dynamic Tamil art form, Therukoothu, with a particular emphasis on its all-night, semi-improvised performances. Her research challenges traditional theatre conventions by exploring the religious, ritualistic, and secular dimensions of Therukoothu, revealing the intricate interplay between space, rituals, and their transformative impact on Tamil theatrical expression.
To contextualize Therukoothu within contemporary performance discourse, Jhansilin advocates for its reimagining to engage modern audiences. Her methodological approach integrates auto-ethnography, allowing her to acknowledge her insider perspective while maintaining critical reflexivity. She employs historical and thematic reviews to situate Therukoothu within broader performance studies, and incorporates ethnographic interviews and participant observation to capture the lived experiences of practitioners and audiences.
With a background in Language & Literature, holding a BA and MA in English Studies from Women’s Christian College, Chennai, and Madras University, and enriched by two years of teaching experience, Jhansilin brings a blend of scholarly rigor and cultural sensitivity to her research. She was awarded Assistant Professorship by the University Grants Commission of India for clearing National Eligibility Test in English Literature. Her experience in teaching English Studies for two years led her in choosing Performing Arts as her primary research area.
Publications
- Contributed a review on popular TV series, to an Anthology called ‘RIPPLES’, compiled by Cherisha Agnes, published by Shubharambh Publication house, Odisha, India.
- Served as one of the contributors to a compilation by Prof. Dr. Supala Pandiarajan, University of Madras, Chennai for the Post Graduate Course book, MA English, Second year, Semester IV, Elective paper IV called, “English Literature for UGC NET/SET Examinations”, published by Institute of Distance Education, University of Madras, Chennai.
Title of thesis: Performing Arts of Tamil Nadu: Trajectory from Religion to Secular
Jhansilin currently works on the Performing Arts of South India, especially Folk Theatre, Music, and Dance. She tries to bring out the trajectory from being religious to becoming secular while trying to touch upon the role of storytelling in performances and at the same time, tries to provide a voice to the voiceless in terms of caste discrimination towards the artists within the country through a practice-based/ practice-informed approach.
Supervisors: Dr Fred Dalmasso and Professor Claire Warden.