Somebody grows our food!

Kadaisi Vivasayi (Tamil, கடைசி விவசாயி, The Last Farmer; 2022) 

Director: M. Manikandan

As you grow older, you think you grow wiser. You assume you are slowly getting the neck of how things work around you. You realise everything in Nature has a pattern, and everything around it is tailored to adapt and survive. If you were a farmer, you would figure out a greater force that balances everything. The worms, ants, bees, birds, butterflies and flowers are all part of this delicate equilibrium. No one member is more important than the other in each other's survival. Try killing the creepy crawlies like the DDT experience taught us, and you will have an eerie, dull, quiet spring with no colourful butterflies or chirping birds.

Like that, in other aspects of life, you mellow down. You realise that there is no point in getting excited about everything. Most things resolve by themselves. The younger ones around you think you are too laid back. You give in easily. They are convinced you have lost it. You are a toothless tiger. Worse, you are demented, delusional or living in your own world. With the progressive deterioration of your sensory faculties, they may even label you psychotic.

In the fast world that we live in, people have no patience for slow and 'archaic' thinking. They live in the fast lane and want today's outcome yesterday. Old technology deserves to be kept as property of the Archives. They want controlled double-blind studies to accept something or at least what everybody blindly agrees on. 

All in all, this film is poetry in motion. It does not outrightly tell you in your face not to be stupid, but it does it in a nuanced, subtle, non-preachy way. As we know, there is widespread resentment amongst farmers in India, predominantly in Tamil Nadu, that there is a worldwide conspiracy to abolish India's traditional way of farming. The ancient Indian farming method is supposedly eco-friendly and all-encompassing. Now, in a big way, multinationals are coming in with their chemical pesticide, herbicides, patented GMO seeds or even seedless fruits.

In the movie, an 80 year-year-old farmer lives alone on his large plot of land. He has no heirs but continues small-scale farming and rearing whatever he can. Life is increasingly difficult for him. When he approaches the local agro-shop for seeds to plant tomatoes, the dealer laughs at him, saying that the new breed of tomatoes is seedless. They are resilient and grow in abundance. So who needs traditional seeds when the new species does better? The old man, Mayandi, is puzzled and cannot understand how plants grow without seeds. He curses the shopkeeper in his heart, wondering how one would feel if his child has no seedlings, i.e. sperms?

You see, Mayandi, a traditional man, views all living beings kindly - his plants and cows too. He even tastes his cow feed before buying it to ensure its palatability! Hence, the village folks view him as being slightly mad.

Talking about being mad, Mayandi has a nephew, Ramaiyah, who became off his rockers after failing to marry his beau. Ramaiyah walks around like a madman talking nonsense, but it makes much sense upon scrutiny.

There are a lot of things going on. Many subtle tongue-in-the-cheek kinds of hitting modern technology. Even Bill Gates is mentioned here. As we know, he is on a crusade to patent seeds and control all world resources, including water. Iconography and songs about Murugan, the defender of everything Tamil, are liberally mentioned here.

Big corporations are trying to buy land from the farmers. Many of the villagers sell their lands for the joy of getting big bucks. One such person bought an elephant with his earnings and is making big bucks putting the elephant to work. He is well off and gives a condescending overview of people's naivety throughout the movie. Mayandi resists. Somebody puts three dead peacocks on his land. A police report is made when somebody sees Mayandi burying the birds. Mayandi is apprehended by the police for harming the national birds. The rest of the story is about how the villagers get together to help Mayandi plant the first rice crop for prayers, as he had promised earlier.

A good watch. One of the better movies of recent times. 4.5/5. It is a wake-up call for the current generation who do not appreciate agriculture and the governments of the world who do not emphasise food security. Many need to remember that the raw material that we obtain from supermarkets are grown by somebody. Money does not grow on trees, but food does.

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Symbolism galore!

Us (2019)
Written and Directed: Jordan Peele


We think that we deserve the life we are leading, that everybody else there is to serve us, that the Universe owes us a living. We live under a false assumption that we merit the comforts and luxuries that are showered upon us. We demand that the little people be subservient to us. "You know who I am?" we tell them.

It only takes a single catastrophe to turn the tables. When the balance is tipped, when equilibrium is tilted because of man-made or natural catastrophe, pandemonium would rule. There would be no niceties. The hierarchical order of the societies would crumble. The Master-Servant role would be reversed. For survival, one has fight tooth and nail.

In my opinion, the above message is subtly conveyed in Jordan Peele's latest blockbuster 'Us'. At the word go, it is staring right at our face. The symbolism in this movie can only be rivalled by Dan Brown's 'Da Vinci Code'. 'Us' may imply that the story is the US, the country! The word 'us' of late has been used as a confrontational tool - us, the citizens of the greatest country of the world versus the rest of the sub-human countries of the world; either you are with us or against us etcetera. The people who the USA had wronged over the years, like their interference on the affairs of the Central and the South American countries, are arriving in convoys and banging at their doorsteps, screaming to come in. And the established US citizens are not willing to part with their share of the American pie.

'Us' the movie also tries to incorporate many established urban legends. There is a mention of a secret Government project to clone people to aid in their nefarious activities. Somehow the project failed miserably and the doppelgangers were screaming to reclaim their lives as the other. The only successful part of the project is the tunnels that all under the USA.

That brings us to the frequent mention of 1986 campaign 'Hands across America', the time when the lead character goes missing in a funfair and swaps places with her cloned double. This initiative was run along the lines of 'USA for Africa' - to collect money from well-meaning and well-to-do Americans to help the needy. Even though it is humanly impossible to join hands across America coast to coast, bearing in mind the terrain of the continent, the organisers made everyone believe that it was possible. In the film, unlike the people above, who could not complete the human chain, the 'Tethered People' (the products of the clone) had a complete tunnel beneath. It goes to show our insincerity in helping people. We create an illusion of prosperity when in actuality we are not. We think we are happy but we have to pacify ourselves in alcohol, rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous, immersed in the culture of over-consumption and addicted to our hand-held devices to fool ourselves into believing that we are indeed happy. 

Fake too is the 'Hands Across America' project. It failed to reach its target but only raised the stardom of the personalities involved. The 'haves' only seems to show that they empathised the 'have nots' and have them in their heart and mind. In reality, it is just lip service. They want them to stay at the impoverished levels. They do not want them to have equal footing with the rest. 

The oppressed or the underprivileged will rise. When that happens, in short, nothing can stop. There is a frequent reference to a biblical passage, Jeremiah 11.11, in the film. It forecasts a bleak future for the surface dwellers, for they shall not able to escape despite their pleas to God. It was referenced to God wrath to idol worshippers in Babylon.

In short, it was an interesting movie. Forget the horror genre attached to it. It would be more fun knowing that there are more than meets the eye. Having a background of the symbolism appearing in the flick makes it doubly captivating.

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No place like home!

The Wizard of Oz (1939)


Even though 'The Wizard of Oz' (the film) based on the 'The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz' (the book in 1895) played important roles in many people's childhood, I was always under the impression that it was one of those silly children stories that one can do without. Of course, the soundtrack of the movie, especially 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' kept ringing in everyone's ears to remind that the right time will come one day or was it a message just to keep the crybabies quiet?

Now they tell me that 'The Wizard of Oz' was satire through and through. Subtly hidden behind the outrageous storyline was the fight of the Populist Party in the 19th century USA against their monetary system. In 1895, there was an economic depression that affected most of the typical Americans. Part of the reason for that money was pegged to gold. The Populist Party, under the auspices of its leader William Jennings Bryan, a two-time Presidential candidate, campaigned for usage of silver and gold in their monetary policy. There was a fear of usage of Greenback to create fiat money. Gold was at risk of being controlled by bankers. 

The author, L. Frank Baum, was a journalist and a member of the Populist party. He bought over a Republican Party newspaper. To keep its readership (Republicans) happy, he wrote about many of the Populist agenda in a concealed manner. His book in 1900 'The Wonderful World of Oz' was one excellent example. 

Just like the 'Grimm Tales' which portrays living conditions in Germany and 'Alice in Wonderland' of Victorian times, 'The Wizard of Oz' is an allegory to the monetary system and of the American dream. It was all about people power, having a vision and finding it in your own backyard. 

In the 1890s, America had a severe recession. Farmers lost their land to greedy bankers. Industry workers lost their jobs. People were generally disillusioned. 

Dorothy, the average American, is blown off in her house in Kansas (Populist's stronghold) to Munchinland (short, dark, funnily dressed people - probably immigrants). Her house lands on the Witch of the East (Wall Street) and killing her. She is threatened by the Witch of the West (Rockefeller in Cleveland, West to NY). The kind Witch of the North is Populist Party who helps Dorothy with the silver slippers to pave the Yellow Brick Road to meet The Wizard of Oz. The silver denotes the silver that the party is campaigning for; The Yellow Brick Road being the Gold standard. To flaunt their spanking new Technicolour abilities, the filmmakers decided to substitute the silver slippers to scintillating red ruby ones. The Witch was the West is hellbent on removing the silver sandals.

Accompanying Dorothy in her journey are The Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. The Scarecrow needs a brain. It refers to the farmers who have the knowledge but lack the confidence to stand on their own. The Tin Man, referring to the workers in industries, need constant oiling (need oil money to keep them working) needs a heart because he has been dehumanised by modern machinery. He used to be made of wood but was soon replaced. He needs the heart to be human again. The Cowardly Lion refers to Bryan, the voracious speaker who does not have the guts to push his agenda all the way to Washington (Emerald City in the story).

The symbolism goes on and on. Oz refers to how gold is measured; oz being abbreviation to the ounce. The Wizard of Oz seemed like an unapproachable guy, but he ended up being a lovable guy controlled by buttons and gadgets behind the curtain. These complicated things denote the intricate contraptions devised by the bankers to entrap the people, and The Wizard (maybe the President) is dancing to their tune.

The take-home message here is that everything is there is the USA. It is up to the people of all level to grip it and chase their American Dream.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_interpretations_of_The_Wonderful_Wizard_of_Oz

http://www.themoneymasters.com/the-wonderful-wizard-of-oz-a-monetary-reformers-brief-symbol-glossary/

https://asok22.wixsite.com/real-lesson 

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https://www.facebook.com/groups/riflerangeboy/!

The wisdom behind Murugan's Vel!

I have a confession. When I was young, at an impression age, when my guards were down, naive and the eyes of knowledge were still in slumber, I was ashamed whenever I attended religious functions. The theatrics showed by the professors of religions were, in my nimble mind, laughable. During Thaipusam and fire-walking ceremonies, the high decibels, high energies and activities that they emanated just took away any semblance of divinity from it. Now, I know better, I think, I hope.

Like the Oracles of Delphi, messages are transmitted in coded languages and double speaks. They are all symbolic notes to the secret of life. We have to understand that the religious leaders were spreading the good word to mostly illiterate simpletons and agrarians with primal needs.

The power, force, fire, sounds, noise, water and light are not as they are. The evil or dark forces are not from without but within; our naivety, ignorance and our inertia to progress. The sceptic in me, however, asks myself whether all these are just afterthoughts or justifications to our past history which is so full of carnage and evil?

The lady asks, "Murugan received the Vel (spear) from his mother Parvati to kill the enemies, right?"
"Yes," said the teacher.
The lady demands, "which mother would give a weapon to her child? Is it not irresponsible?"
The teacher sheepishly smiles to say, "It is all symbology." Whilst praising the Tamils, he replies,"... the Tamils were far ahead of their time, even more than 2500 years ago.
The Vel is actually a weapon, correct, but it is our thinking capacity. It should be sharp like the tip, wide like the blade and deep like the holder!"
To this, everybody applauded!!! Vel, Vel, Arohara!

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Keep eyes open to see the symbolism

Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Director: Stanley Kubrik


There are many versions of Hinduism and their search for the truth and attainment of blissfulness. The Vaishvanaites seem to think that the conversation between the charioteer and his Master encompasses all questions of life whilst the Shaivaites accept the union of the male and female counterpart of Nature as the way to reach peace. A different group of Tantric followers refer to a time when Shiva is said to be in a carnal embrace with Shakti as bliss. The lustful union of male and female is described as like a serpentine union that arise from the base of the spine to reach its peak as it reaches the brain to give a feeling of complete enlightenment called Kundalini. Interestingly, the medical caduceus uses the picture of a pair of snakes coiled around a twig as a symbol of a human body in perfect health!

The right-sided snake refers to the male component whilst the left is the feminine part. No, said yet another group. The left part refers to forbidden pleasures like flesh, wine and intoxicants. This group include the Aghoris who lead such ascetic lives amongst the dead bodies in Benares, feeding on corpses in the funeral pyre, smoking weed and splurging themselves with ash just as the loner Shiva is sometimes portrayed in certain Puranas!

The scriptures hint that this form of Tantric practices has arisen from the traditional Hindu cultures' peripheral societies, named the outcast and the scorned gravediggers who are accused as dog-eaters. Maybe, the writer of this story, which was actually written with the Viennese upper society in mind, in this film, though, is directed at the higher echelon of the community. He hints that, despite the seemingly aesthetic demure of their lifestyles, they still yearn for the clandestine deviant way of living scorned by modern society.

Star of Ishtar

This Stanley Kubrick's swansong (he died in his sleep five days after the last final cut) is rife with symbolism and discusses matters related to humankind's primal need, the act of procreation. The film is painstakingly slow but is gripping with its dialogue. The words are sometimes poetic, spoken slowly and calculatedly, making the audience second-guess what the next word would be.

Talking about symbolism, it is Christmas time in the movie, but instead of the Star of David on the Christmas tree, we see the 8-pointed Star of Ishtar, a symbol of the Babylonian Goddess of fertility, love and sexuality. She is said to have many lovers and was not too kind to them.

More about tongue-in-the-cheek references got to do with the choices of the characters' names. Bill (Dr William Harford, Tom Cruise) may refer to bills as in the dollar bill implying that money can buy anything and that everything has a price. We repeatedly see how he uses his money to demand services and products, as well as how he flashes his 'doctor card' to organise things. His wife is Alice (like Alice in Wonderland, Nicole Kidman). Like Alice in the classic, she is bored with life and does not know what to do with life. She is an art curator by training but a stay home mum by choice to mind her young daughter.

By virtue of Dr Bill's liaison with elite patients, he and his wife are invited to a grand Christmas party. Slowly the theme of the story unfolds. The seemingly perfect polished aesthetic life is marred with dark secrets as the host is sexually engaged with a young, nearly drug overdosed temptress. All turned out all right. Then Bill meets his old medical school drop-out friend, Nick Nightingale, a pianist. Slowly he is drawn into a spiralling scheme of occult practices and vowed secrecy.

Meanwhile, the bored champagne guzzling Alice is courted by a Hungarian prowler whose name Sandor just happened to the founder of Church of Satan's middle name, Anton Sandor Lavey! Symbolism again.


Later back home, Alice narrates a prior instant when she went all jello for a young naval officer. That starts a dilemma of sorts for the couple as they wonder what actually keeps a couple intact. Is it loyalty to each other based on society made arrangements and rules? Is the social pact a way to clip the primal, animalistic behaviour to kerb the indiscriminate sowing of wild oats? Are the social norms different for the females as they are delegated to caring for offsprings? Are they just to suppress the inner desires and just appear pretty for her husband and the society they live in? Does her role as a lovely object end after getting a good catch as her life is taken care of? Are the education and nurturing imparted to them wasted in that sense? Is having thoughts of sexual fantasy and infidelity equal to adultery? Can it be construed as being disloyal to the spouse? That is when Bill goes astray on a self-discovery voyage over the next couple of days.

We follow Bill's adventure of sexual desires, a secret society with occult practices and how the elites cover their trail of debauchery with wealth and influence. Just like the upper-class Venetian Society in the Italian Renaissance still wanted to join the festivities in the town with a myriad of cultures without exhibiting their identity. Hence, the masked parties were a rave. So, pervasive carnal treachery is not confined to the lower rung members but also in the upper crust, but they manage to conceal their track more quickly.

Interestingly, a Tamil song rendition to create the ambience of a spiritual Tantric practice when the secret society is in session. It seems that verses from the Bhagavadgita were initially intended to form the lyrics but was changed at the last minute.

Something revered as divine by our ancestors as they could not understand its intrinsically incredible powers of release and procreation, it has now evolved to become a pastime. The world has become fixated on it. They have no qualms of recruiting children of those inflicted with poverty and underprivileged to traffic them to satisfy the needs of the haves.

In the end, we come to realise that everything comes with a price. With the news of the mysterious death of a participant of the cult and a character afflicted with HIV and the threat of harm to society, it all seems not worth it.

Like in Freudian suggestion, the world is a balance between Eros and Thanatos. Eros being the life-giving one of love, continuity of life and pro-social action, whilst Thanatos is the destructive force.

Ref: http://vigilantcitizen.com/moviesandtv/the-hidden-and-not-so-hidden-messages-in-stanley-kubricks-eyes-wide-shut-pt-iii/