Srambican

The recently released L2: Empuraan is nothing short of a cinematic triumph, a testament to the evolving brilliance of Malayalam cinema. Prithviraj Sukumaran’s direction is a masterstroke, elevating the industry to new heights with a vision that’s both bold and meticulous. Equally deserving of praise is Murali Gopy, whose script and dialogues weave a tapestry of words so powerful they linger long after the credits roll. This film is a shining example of storytelling done right—gripping, thought-provoking, and unapologetic. But beyond its artistic merits, L2 has sparked a predictable yet absurd political storm. Right-wing leaders have been quick to cry foul, clutching their pearls at the film’s depiction of historical events—specifically, the 2002 Gujarat riots. Their outrage is not just comical; it’s dripping with irony. These are the same voices that cheered for The Kerala Story , a film so steeped in propaganda that it could barely masquerade as fiction. They handed out free ticket...

I didn’t initially plan to write something like this, but there’s been a lot of buzz lately about Suffragan Metropolitan Joseph Mar Barnabas receiving communion from the Patriarch. While many of the comments I’ve seen are derogatory and fail to reflect either Christian kindness or basic human respect, the issue seems to stem from a lack of understanding about the Mar Thoma Church’s ecumenical theology and teachings on the Holy Qurbana. I want to shed some light on that based on what I’ve come to learn. 𝑬𝒄𝒖𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑬𝒄𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒚 Central to Mar Thoma ecclesiology is the Pauline imagery of the "Body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:27), a theological construct that emphasizes unity within diversity and transcends denominational boundaries. A defining mission of the Church is "to unite all things in Jesus Christ," a commitment that explicitly eschews exclusivist frameworks, such as papal or patriarchal supremacy. This idea of enclave theology was seen wi...

Aesthetic Perception of Song of Songs: Reflections of Rasa Theory by Asher Mathews  achen offers a fresh and creative take on the Song of Songs by interpreting it through the lens of Indian Rasa Theory. This unique pioneering approach blends biblical literature with Indian aesthetic principles, making the book stand out in the field of theological studies. I had been looking forward to reading this book since the day I saw its release in social media, and a good friend of mine made sure I got my hands on it. From the moment I saw the cover, I was impressed. It is so creative, unique, and eye-catching that it instantly grabs attention, an apt reflection of the fresh and innovative ideas within the book. The Song of Songs is a familiar yet often overlooked book of the Bible. Though many across religious lines may recognize its beautiful love poetry, it is rarely explored in everyday sermons or many times even in theological discussions. In my experience, I can only recall one instanc...

Today, I was sitting in the adoration chapel when a mother and her little kid walked in. The child couldn’t have been more than four years old. As soon as the mother knelt to pray, he copied her, got down on his knees and everything. After a while, when she sat on the small chair, he sat right next to her on the floor. In between, I saw him peeking at his mom, checking if her eyes were open. And when she picked up the Bible to read, he grabbed a prayer book and flipped through the pages, just like her. Before leaving, the mother walked up to the adoration glass and gently touched it, and this little one followed. But before stepping out, he kissed the glass where the Eucharist was kept and softly said, "Yeshupappa, I love you... potte, bye." I had tears in my eyes. Here we are, struggling in faith every day, while this child believed without even knowing anything. Sherikum, maybe this is why Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me." That mother is the real h...