A movie called ‘Malikkappuram’ was released in Kerala recently catching the attention of Malayali audiences. The movie has since become an industrial hit being the first big box office success in the year 2023 for Kerala movie industry. Crafted around the legend and myth of Sabarimala temple, the movie has reignited the debate surrounding the much-famed temple of Sabarimala and the Supreme Court judgement relating to it. In this context it becomes pertinent to look in to the reignited Sabarimala temple and also understand as to why the movie has created a connection with Kerala audience?
The Plot
‘Malikappuram’, directed by debutant Vishnu Sasi Shankar, narrates the story of an eight-year-old girl Kalyani aka Kallu, a little girl from Panchalimedu village who is 8 years old, her strong desire to visit the Sabarimala Ayappan Temple. By narrating the story of a ‘Malikappuram’ (all girls visiting Sabarimala for the first time are referred to as Malikappuram), the movie deals with how faith takes root in young minds. It is creating such an impact that even kids watching the movie was calling ‘Swamiye Sharanamayyappa’ loudly towards the end of the movie. In fact, for anyone who has been to Sabarimala before, it feels like visiting the temple again through the well-planned frames from Erumeli to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. The first half of the movie is in a typical village setting with local myths and portrays a young girl’s ardent wish to go to Sabarimala. Due to tragic events, her trip gets delayed and later she and her friend Piyush portrayed by Sreepath, who has done a commendable job, decide to visit Sabarimala themselves. The movie also emphasis the concept of ‘Tatvamasi’ where each individual can be seen as Brahman based on Hindu philosophy.
More Than A Movie
Even though the movie was based on simple premises and on the basis of a temple which has been embedded in the minds of Keralites, the movie created a big impact, both in terms of people who loving it and people who hated it. In some corners the movie has triggered the wrath of communists and radical Islamist Keralites the world over. RSS/BJP supporters, who updated positive reviews of the movie on social media, are being subjected to vile cyberbullying. Incidentally, C Praglesh, a local writer and leader from Malappuram associated with the Communist Party of India (CPI) affiliated Yuva Kala Sahithi, too, had to bear the brunt for praising the movie. Praglesh is also the local editor of CPI’s mouthpiece Janayugam and the CPI Ponnani Area Secretary. After watching the movie, the communist writer posted his appreciation on Facebook. This did not go well with other communist activists in the state. The trolling began in earnest. This reaction is not surprising as the movie itself is a daring attempt in Kerala wherein a pure devotional movie was taken in to mainstream. But, the ‘left-dominated’ Malayalam movie industry is having hard time to acknowledge this fact.
Soon after the Supreme Court ordered entry of women in to the age-old temple, the communists in the state started their work to further their agenda of destroying another symbol of Hindu worship without taking any recourse against Supreme Court judgement. It is a fact that so many people protested on the streets against women entry but the Chief Minister did not show the large-heartedness to see and understand this. The verdict and the subsequent developments in the state had led to social, political and cultural upheaval to an extent that was unprecedented and unexpected. For many faithful devotees, the verdict, and the day (28th September, 2018) represents a black day, a day of deafening shock where the highest constitutional court decided to egregiously violate the foundation of their faith in Swami Ayyappa. The calls of, till then a call of faith and devotion, acquired shades of political dissent and became a battle cry against a state machinery that wished to violate the sanctity of a temple that Hindus, especially those belonging to Kerala, held dearest to their heart. The obstinacy of the Kerala Chief minister, Pinrayi Vijayan, meant that the situation in the state worsened as the temple opened in October during that year’s pilgrimage season. The attempted entry of, an ‘activist’ who wasn’t even a devotee on 18 October 2018, worsened the situation significantly. The Pinarayi Vijayan government pushed the agenda in the name of ‘Navothanam’ (Renaissance), but it is interesting to note that the Vijayan government took the name of ‘Renaissance’ only for the majority community while taking the side of Islamist and Jihadist to cater to their needs and orthodox practices. This was evident recently when the Communist government batted for Sharia law.
The political impact of the whole situation was such that the ruling communist government suffered catastrophic defeat in the Parliament elections of 2019, the huge loss forced the government to backtrack on so called ‘Navothanam’ as the hard stance took by Pinarayi government against Hindu’s in the state became a liability for the party. But it was too late as the agenda of the communist was revealed for everyone to see.
Years later, even in 2023, the issue is burning in Kerala. Sabarimala have a special place in the heart of Keralites as it symbolises their unwavering commitment to upholding what defines their identity. Communist in Kerala tries to take advantage of silent majority as it is easier for them to do that than to take up issues of importance against defiant minority. This resentment against the government and mass support among Hindus in Kerala against the stance took by government are the main reasons why the movie ‘Malikappuram’ found a special place in the heart of Keralites. The success of the movie gives us another important lesson also, it is that, the fear that minorities are an explosive force which can wreak havoc on the whole fabric of the state shall be set aside and majority shall be treated on par with minorities not on basis of fear but on the basis of substantial facts and equity which is guaranteed to all.
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