Greetings,
A few days ago, I watched the Tamil-language movie Kadaisi Vivasayi, released in 2022. The film is beautifully written and directed by M. Manikandan. Kadaisi Vivasayi translates to The Last Farmer, which hints at the central theme of the movie.
Key Facts About the Film
Release date: 11 February 2022 (India)
Director: M. Manikandan
Producer: M. Manikandan
Music director: Richard Harvey, Santhosh Narayanan
Awards: National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil, National Film Award – Special Mention
Language: Tamil
Cast
- Nallandi as Mayandi, a farmer
- Muneeshwaran as Karuppan
- Kali Muthu as Suresh
- Chaplin Sundar as Mookan
- Dr. Raichal Rabecca Philip as Magistrate Mangaiyarkarasi
- Vijay Sethupathi as Ramaiah
- Yogi Babu as Thadikozhanthai
- Kutty Sornakka as Raakayi
The story follows the life of an elderly yet passionate tribal farmer, Mayandi, who tends a small farm in the remote village of Usilampatti, Madurai. Mayandi is the only farmer left in his village who still practices agriculture and farming, while others have chosen various alternative means of livelihood.
Usilampatti is a lush green, typical Indian village with its raw nature, culture, traditions, customs, and old-fashioned people. The villagers revere Lord Murugan (also known as Lord Kartikey), and his vehicle, the peacock, prominently symbolizes spirituality, existence, love for nature, hope, and the cyclical nature of life in the village, themes that are intricately woven into the narrative.
I would say that this movie is a 'Pastoral Poem,' as it begins with a folk song and features many others throughout. These folk songs enrich the narrative, highlighting the essence of rural life. The cinematography adds yet another layer of depth to the movie's depiction of pastoral imagery. All the scenes appear so natural and lifelike that one cannot help but marvel at the serenity of the village. I highly recommend watching this movie in at least 1080p/full HD to fully appreciate its cinematography. The scenes of Mayandi's farming, watering the seeds, the rocks and hills of the village, and the stunning drone views are simply marvellous. The visuals are consistently soothing to the eyes, ensuring that viewers remain enchanted and connected to the film from start to finish.
The village also has its darker side, seen in the form of superstitions. However, calling them "superstitions" might be inappropriate, as every tribe has its own unique traditions and customs. One day, the ancient tree in the village, planted by Mayandi's great-great-grandmother, is struck down by lightning. This incident is immediately followed by a drought, leading the villagers to believe that their deity is furious with them. The villagers decide that they must pray to their deity and offer the first grains from the harvest as an offering. The responsibility for this falls on Mayandi, as he is the only one still practicing agriculture.
Moreover, Western influence is evident in the village, as many villagers sell their lands in pursuit of a better future. Shops once dedicated to farming essentials now sell Western seeds and harmful insect repellents, which stand in stark contrast to Mayandi's organic farming methods. Mayandi's dedication to traditional farming is so deep that he even tastes cattle feed himself, make sure its quality before feeding it to his cattle.
One day, Mayandi discovers a dead peacock on his farm and buries it nearby. However, this act leads to his imprisonment on a false charge of killing the peacock. This whole situation introduces moments of mild humor through the interactions between the villagers and the police. The villagers' inability to recognize the policemen, mistaking them for electricians or auto drivers, is particularly hilarious. Ramaiya, a character portrayed as a madman (or perhaps not), serves as a significant link between love and spirituality, further enriching the film's thematic depth.
I highly recommend watching the movie in its original Tamil version with English subtitles. This way, you can fully experience the richness of Tamil folk music and also appreciate the deep and meaningful lyrics that beautifully capture themes of farming and the cyclical nature of life and death.
Here is the official trailer of the film,
Thank you...
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