The sculpture depicting the great Malayalam poet Kumaranasan and his famous poem Chandalabhikshuki is one of the most beautiful sights in the Kannur Party Congress venue. Popularly known as Asan, Kumaranasan is a poet the sentimentality of whose poems had deeply influenced the social life of Kerala and changed the course of Malayalam poetry. Kerala is going to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Asan. His poem, a part of the history of Kerala Renaissance, is still an active subject of discussion.
Poster of the film Gramavrikshathile Kuyil
The film 'Gramavrikshathile Kuyil' based on the poet's life by Malayalam director K P Kumaran's is to be released on April 8. Kumaranasan was the disciple of Narayana Guru, the torchbearer of Kerala renaissance. According to K P Kumaran, Asan was always judged only in this shadow. But he was not a mere footnote of Guru. In his poems, Asan openly exposed untouchability, caste system and challenged the orthodox, hegemonic system. He is as important as the Guru in regaining the self pride of Kerala. His stature in Kerala is equivalent to that of Subramanya Bharathi in Tamil Nadu.
The film is an attempt to see Asan away from the shadow of the Guru. Love, Buddhist philosophy and the desire for freedom are the recurring themes in Asan's poetry. Works such as Chandalabhikshuki, Duravasta, Chinthavishtayaya Sitha and Karuna contains the ideas of women's emancipation and liberation of the downtrodden. The poem Gramavrikshathile Kuyil is an autobiographical account of the relationship between Guru and Asan. That name was also adopted for the film.
