Pookkaalam

I saw a Malayalam movie Pookkaalam today. This is not a review about the direction, cinematography, songs, etc. This is what my opinion of the movie. 

There is a couple in their 90s and married for 80 years. One day, the man finds a love letter written long time ago by someone to his wife. His wife is silent about this. Therefore, the man decides to file for divorce. This leaves his family (children and grandchildren) completely devastated. Great family drama. 

Did they finally get a divorce? Please watch the movie to find out. 

The movie was directed by Ganesh Raj. The story is nonconformist. It is about marital strife.

Vijayaraghavan acted as the nonagenarian husband. The make-up person did a great job that the actor looked really like he is in his 90s. 

The 90-year-old wife’s portrayal of her improper past was not convincing. 

The court scenes can be called “comedy”. 

On the whole, I liked this movie.

Vivek Ramaswamy Update

Yesterday Trump was arrested and arraigned in Miami, Florida, for mishandling classified documents. There were lot of Trump supporters at the courthouse. Also, many TV and Network reporters covering this event. Our friend, Vivek Ramaswamy, who is also a Republican Party's presidential nominee contender, took that opportunity and did a grand standing. 

Vivek came to the U.S. Courthouse in Miami, Florida and gave a speech.  He said that, if he is elected President, he will pardon Trump for his federal charges. He asked other Republican candidates also to do this pledge or tell the people why they will not pardon Trump. Here is his entire 12 minutes speech.

Vivek is very intelligent and clever. He goes wherever there is a camera and microphone and starts to campaign. He is also a powerful orator. He will say “yes” to any interview request. This gets him a lot of free publicity/advertisement. So, Vivek took this occasion of Trump arraignment and spoke in front of a huge audience. 

Vivek has earned a good name from a lot of Republican supporters. 

My personal view is Vivek may have any of the following goals: 

In an unlikely event Trump drops out of the race, he wants all Trump supporters to support him and thus become a 2024 Republican nominee. 

By being constantly in the news, Vivek is positioning himself for 2028. 

If Trump is the eventual Presidential nominee, Vivek has a better chance of becoming Trump's Vice Presidential candidate.

Vivek wants to have a very senior position in the Trump Administration – ala Secretary of State (Foreign Minister) 

In any case, people from Vadakkencherry, Palghat will be happy because that is where his parents are from. 

One last item. People in the streets in USA may not know who Narendra Modi is but they all now know who Vivek Ramaswamy is. He got the name recognition now.

PS: If you want to run for the U.S. President you have to be very rich.  In the history of USA only 2 people (Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton) were poor before becoming President.  Vivek Ramaswamy has $630 million US Dollars.  He is not poor.

Sologamy

First time I heard the word Sologamy. The meaning is a marriage by a person to themself. Other than this,  I have seen or read or heard several types of marriages. 

Heterosexual Marriage – Marriage between a man and a woman. No need for explanation.

Gay Marriage – Marriage between two men. No need for explanation. 

Lesbian Marriage – Marriage between two women. No need for explanation. 

Human-Animal Marriage. Marriage between a human and an animal. This was discussed in mythology. There have been reports of a human-animal marriages in some remote villages. Also, heard about people marrying their pets out of love. These types of marriages are illegal and nor recognized. In 2017, there was a huge rumor that Norway legalized this type of human-animal marriage. That was a fake news. 

Human-Tree marriage. Marriage between a human and a tree. This is a common practice in many countries including India. This is supposed to be infused with supernatural life. In some culture only a widower can marry a widow. In such a case a bachelor will marry a tree, then cut the tree, and thus he becomes a widower. There was a news in the papers that Aishwarya Rai married a tree to overcome astrological differences with her then fiancé Abhishek Bachchan.  (I do not know if this was a true or fake news.)

Sologamy – Marriage by a person to themself. They take a marriage vows alone in front of a mirror. It is a symbolic expression of self-love. Meaningful relationship with one’s self. This sologamy marriage is happening quite frequently nowadays. In 1996, professional basketball star Dennis Rodman married himself. 

If you know or heard of any of the Human-Animal marriage, Human-Tree marriage, or Sologamy, please write about that in the comments section. Thanks. (I know something similar but it is not fit for publishing in this blog.)

PS: My friend Ramani just messaged me in WhatsApp - In INDIA KSHAMA BINDU married herself in the first instance of sologamy.