Theatre: The Myth of Reality (തിയേറ്റർ)

Before it became Kerala, our land was...

...a dense forest inhabited by plenty of snakes.

Throwing his axe into the sea, Parasurama regained this piece of land...

...and gifted it to people to atone for his sins of killing scores of kshatriyas...

When people started settling there...

...snakes, the old inhabitants of the place, began hurting people.

The people went to Parasurama and explained the situation.

Scared of the curses of people, a worried Parasurama...

...headed to Mount Kailasa and started praying to Lord Shiva.

Following the instruction of Lord Shiva who appeared before him...

...Parasurama returned to Kerala...

...and started meditating on Lord Vasuki, the king of serpents.

Soon, the serpent king appeared and offered help.

Serpent king Vasuki ordered his reptilian subjects to stay away from humans.

He advised Parasurama to make groves...

...around each house to rehabilitate them.

Eventually, they became sacred serpent groves.

People worshipped Lord Vasuki and Lord Anantha here.

Thus our Kerala became the suitable abode for snake deities.

That's one of the myths.

Mom...

Mom...

Are you crazy?!

Where are you heading to in this rain?!

Go inside and dry your hair. If you fall sick...

Come back, dear.

Oh... no. Get back quickly, dear.

Go inside, Mom.

Let me save this kitten from dying. I'll come.

Come... Come...

Dear, Come back soon.

Don't I always tell you not to do things that make you ill?

Listen!

Sitting here, we'll not know how the rain will be.

It might be like last time.

Jagan will come here with people.

Shall we just leave before that?

No.

I'm not coming anywhere.

Mom, the rain has eased off. Let's start now itself.

Give it to me.

Come, get up.

Come on Mom.

No. I'm not coming anywhere.

Remember last time?

Just get into the canoe and sit with your eyes closed.

Won't our kitten and dogs be left alone?

If water doesn't rise up much, we can return soon.

I'm not taking many clothes, okay?

Mom... Come. It's raining heavily again. Hurry up.

No dear...

You used to row alone in the past.

Come, I'll give you a hand.

Mother, please get in.

- Please hurry up, Mom. - Let's not go dear.

Okay then, let's not leave.

It's not that I like going to the relief camp at that school.

Don't you remember how Jagan came with the Councillor and scolded us last time?

I wanted to avoid it this time.

It's up to you.

Seems like the rains are done.

It's very uncertain unlike in the past.

It could pour in extreme heat as well.

Please guard us, Oh snake deities.

It's past the time to do ritual Kalamezhuthu and pattu.

Mmm.

Looks like a lot of lice in your hair.

I'll pick them when I return.

Here.

These won't work.

That's fine.

Have it for now.

I've never seen you around here...

Where you from?

Here it is.

A bit of it is left.

Will do it later.

Mom, let's collect it after I'm done.

OK.

Those stuff come from the cursed Island.

Don't risk your health for some small profit.

They need to survive too.

Were you crazy to sell it there?

I would have sold it here.

It's not for sale. It's for the home, to cook.

- Keep it inside. - Brother, one cigarette

I thought the water will rise again seeing the last two days of rain.

But the rains just stopped abruptly.

But people say the rains aren't yet over.

Hey, don't get stuck there saying your mom is scared of water.

Don't you forget last time. People had to come and bring you.

Water doesn't come inside our house easily.

In case it happens, you first come here.

Then, we'll bring your mother.

You just refuse to buy a mobile phone also.

- I tried to bring mom here yesterday. - Mm.

She just couldn't.

How can I come alone?

Yesterday it was new moon day too.

We also took our things and fled to camp yesterday due to the flood warning.

Couldn't you have sold the plot to Aashaan for building the resort?

Wheat 2 kg, Rice 2 kg.

Wheat 2 kg, Rice 2 kg.

Instead of struggling there with your ailing mother...

...you can buy a good plot and house here with that money.

- Can I get some 200 coconuts? - Yes.

It's for Viswanathan to offer at the Ganesha temple.

Okay, will bring.

- I need oil and wicks. - Sure.

Hey boy...

Here it is.

Kannan, take this jack fruit home and ask to boil it.

She's sacrificing her life for her mother. Poor girl!

Who's there at that home to marry her off?

Everybody knows what happened to her in her childhood.

Who will accept her?

They were such a prestigious family once!

When I was home last time, I had come here.

But I left right away when I saw you with Chandran.

I'll leave tomorrow.

I had to come at short notice as her grandfather passed.

Didn't you bring your daughter?

She has exams in her school.

Left her at my brother-in-law's home in Sharjah.

Are you okay here?

Yes.

What about your old nightmares?

Not as much.

You could have come away with me back then.

You feel that only when you meet me.

You know I can't be without my mother.

This is enough for us.

You've been repeating this for the past twenty years.

- Mom, want coconut palm leaves? - Yes.

Can you fly this high?

Do you see the beauty of this land?

We spend a fortune on touring foreign countries.

But, we often neglect beautiful spots in our own neighbourhood.

I'm coming here after a long time.

Didn't these places exist here before, brother?

This guy is realizing this only after mobile phones came.

Look, there a woman is rowing a canoe all alone.

We can see many hardworking people like her in this place.

Here is a strong local woman, getting here on the canoe.

Let's ask her what's up here.

Sis...

What's your opinion about this place and life here?

Looks like she isn't used to speaking on camera.

So, friends...

- It's all there, right? - Around ten short.

- Huh? - I'll bring the rest.

Viswanathan has to give it to the temple. Please don't delay.

- Sure... Sure. - OK.

What's this?

- Oh... No idea. - Is it wasp sting?

No. It was an insect never seen before. It bit me.

- An insect? - Yes.

Apply some turmeric or salt.

- Mmm. - Don't let it be.

Mmm.

His father left after getting a government job and never came back.

Hey...

If you are that fond of this land, marry somebody and settle here.

Forget locals, do you even know your relatives here?

Bro, you think I make these videos for the locals? Let the world watch.

Beauty of our land and the people.

You know, how many people visited Munroe island following my video?

I watch your videos.

I saw the Insta story you posted yesterday at many places.

Do you follow me, brother?

Bro, many people are sharing that video.

It might be the most popular video on my page.

But I couldn't see her clearly as I took the video from far.

The woman climbing the coconut tree in your yesterday's story...

...is the one standing there. Meera.

The one who came here earlier?

Why didn't you tell me before?

Here.

I couldn't recognize you earlier as the one in my video.

- I'm off. - OK.

Hey, she is simple soul. Leave her alone.

Why is she like this?

A lot of people have commented on my video asking for her identity.

- Brother... - Uh.

I came here to make a vlog on the beauty of this land.

- Watch this video. - Where?

Aha.

Everyone's keen to know who she is.

Uh..Uh.

If you help me, I can get a video byte from her.

- Any chance, brother? - No...

She is very reserved. What can I do?

Here, take it back. I'm a little busy, son.

What happened to you, dear?

I'll make a paste of turmeric, tulsi and neem to apply where it itches.

I don't know what bit me. The whole body is itching.

An insect can cause this much itching?!

I don't know, Mom. I really don't know what it is.

Come...

Hey... No.