Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 29 (Representative) The vision and sacrifices of illustrious Renaissance leaders like Guru Vagbhatanandan has carved the features that make Kerala unique, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said here on Thursday, it was reported on Friday. “Such personalities had dedicated their lives to free the society from the social evils present. They faced many obstacles, as history concurs. But they did not deviate from their lofty ideals. It is through their endeavours that Kerala has reached the unique stature in the country,” the Chief Minister said while releasing the DVD of the documentary ‘Vagbhatananda Gurudevan – The Herald of the Dawn of Renaissance. “The documentary, written and directed by former Kerala chief secretary K Jayakumar, was produced by the Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society, established by Guru’s followers is an example of his vision,” he added. Renowned filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan received the DVD in the function presided by of Chalachithra Academy President Kamal. ULCCS Chairman Ramesan Paleri felicitated K Jayakumar.
The documentary was premiered after Jayakumar’s response to the felicitations. Along with the Chief Minister, former ministers Kadakampally Surendran, Ramachandran Kadannappally, KP Mohanan and many social, cultural and political personalities attended the premiere. The documentary depicts Guru Vagbhatanandan’s philosophy and its application in the material and social life in the context of the Kerala Renaissance. Unlike other spiritual thinkers, this one-hour film points to the modern-day relevance of the Guru, who organized the people to fight against injustice. The film depicts the social conditions of the first quarter of the last century, introducing the world to the unique, memorable and inspiring life, vision and activities that developed from a spiritual teacher to a social reformer and renaissance leader. Guru Vagbhatanandan was born as Kunjikannan on April 27, 1885, the son of Vayaleri Cheeruvamma of Patyam, North Malabar, and Koran Gurikal, a Sanskrit scholar, poet and progressive thinker in Thenankandi, Vazhavalappil. Vayaleri Kunjikannan Gurikal grew to become Vagbhatanandan through his unmatched oratory skills.
It was Bhrahmananda Sivayogi who, mesmerized by his oratory, named him Vagbhatanandan through an apt sloka. The ‘Atmavidyasangam’ Spiritual Society formed by him in Karaikkadu near Vatakara focused on social reformation work. This disturbed the caste hegemony, and the landlords imposed penalities on the Atmavidyasangham workers by denying them jobs, education, loans and livelihood. The school, the United Credit Co-operative to meet loan demands, and the Uralungal Labourers’ Mutual Aid and Co-operative Society for employment that was formed in defence, proclaim the vision of the Guru. All these institutions have flourished over the century and still radiate that dynamism today. The daily-wage labourers’ co-operative has grown to become the ‘Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society’, one of the largest labour contract co-operatives in Asia, making significant contributions to nation building.
The documentary revisits the historic debate between Vagbhatananda Guru and Sree Narayana Guru, which influenced the latrers position on issues. The documentary is an attempt to establish a worthy place in the history of Kerala for the Guru who inspired many things including the Karshakasangham. The content of the documentary extends beyond the Guru’s writings, books, essays and memoirs depicting his life and philosophy, and speaks at length to historians, senior activists of the Atmavidyasangham and the older generation in and around Karaikkadu. The documentary is co-directed by Ajay Sivaram, cinematography is by C R Prathapan and Suraj Rajendran is the Editor. Professor Aliyar, Rajashree Warrier, Sreekumar Mukhathala and Girish Puliyoor have provided the narration. The songs of the documentary, sung by Kavalam Sreekumar and Kallara Gopan are composed by Kallara Gopan. Background music is by O S Sunilkumar, Sound Mixing by N Harikumar, Sound Design by Mithun Rishan and the Music Recording is by Ani M Arjun. Bhattathiri, Alice Mahamudra, Hari Varma and Mahesh Nambiar have done the illustrations for the documentary. Outdoor shooting is done at Chithranjali, Studio is at Shree Movies and the Coloring by Vista VFX.