Kadaisi vivasayi/கடைசி விவசாயி (Last Farmer)

Recently watched this movie.Its probably one the good movies I have seen of late.

I have seen both movies of Manikandan 'Kaakamuttai' and ' Aandavan Kattalai' and liked it very much. In both movies he had taken a story which is realistic and showed the slice of life in realistic manner.

This movie though similar to his previous movies for most parts also has a a mild but critical element of paranormal/spiritual element to it.

Story is set in a village.An old tree in the village is hit by lightening.People feel it's a bad omen.Elders decide to do a Poosai (worship) for their Village Deity to assuage him and get rid of the bad omen. Due to caste conflict they had not done the ritual to their village deity for a long time.

Protagnist is an elderly man in the village who leads a simple life and has the only parcel of land with water which can be cultivated.And the paddy cultivated from this has to be offered to the deity.While doing this they face so many obstacles.Whether they overcame all obstacles and eventually did the ritual is the story.

 Though this is the story the movie is all about people of the village in the process basically start going back to roots in terms of tradition and their connect with nature and fellow men.

Director needs to be applauded for his brave attempt to make a story with a protagnist who is an elderly man.Director also happens to be the producer. This movie shows life as it is supposed without any make up or added artifical layers we are used to seeing in movies.There is no rush. Though one feels like its too slow in pace you cant help but notice that you are slowly drawn into the movie.

Like other Manikandan's movie a lot of issues of concern to society has been touched upon  without being preachy.Loan sharks indulging in usuary,GMO seeds, rampant sand mining, irony of land being bought for a corporate entity to do large scale organic farming, excessive use of pesticide to name a few. He leaves it to  the intelligence of the audience in treading the depth. For those who are aware of these issues can understand the depth of the movie.

Manikandan also in the movie shows the Native Gods and rituals of Tamils beautifully again without being preachy.He also points out how those Gods have been appropriated and how some stories spun about them sounds silly but again stops short without getting too much into it.

Manikandan is also a beautiful cinematographer and there are some breathtaking visuals of nature.Way he has shot the dawn, mountains,farmlands,birds etc are  simply brilliant.

All the actors in the movies are brilliant.Only 2 artists that are familiar are Vijaysethupathi and Yogi Babu. VJS has a role that is off beat which is not centric to story but has an important act towards climax. Yogi Babu doesnt have much to do. Rest of them though mostly newbies appear  very natural.

Overall its a very good movie which explains the importance of farming and also importance of being in touch with ones roots in a beautiful manner.