Lucifer - Go to the Devil

 

Lucifer

2019, Malayalam

Prithviraj Sukumaran - Director

Indrajith Sukumaran - Govardhan

John Vijay - Mayilvahanan

Manju Warrier - Priyadarshini

Mohanlal - Stephen

Prithviraj Sukumaran - Zayed

Saniya Iyappan - Jhanvi

Tovino Thomas - Jathin

Take heart.  It would take a symbolist, or at least someone who has seen Da Vinci Code as many times as I have, to figure out the inner meaning of Lucifer,  the acclaimed and blockbuster political thriller from 2019.  But, fear not, stumped movie lovers.  Because, as someone who has dived deep into the Dan Brown conspiracy theories, I think I can provide you with some, if not all of the symbolism found in the phenomenal take on the mega-gangster myth.   Grab your magnifying glasses, we are about to begin.

1.  The reverse letters in the title - reference to the Illuminati from Angels and Demons, the super-secret society of rationalists who have enough information to bring down the Catholic Church, and is ought to do so.  It is suggested at the beginning of the film that Khureshi Abram may be its current head.

2. The name Lucifer - the one cast down to hell, but the one whom God loves most.

3. The burnt down church - refers to the Cathars who were burned at the stake for their non-traditional approach to Christianity.  This is Stephen's sanctuary.

4. Priyadarshini -  Draupadi  from Mahabharata who is the one who is the catalyst for bringing down the Empire.

5.  The headless crucifix - symbol of the Knight's Templar who had enough knowledge to bring down the King of the Jews.

For all this to work, it required tremendous research, particularly on the part of the brilliant director/actor Mr. Prithviraj.  He creates an almost Hitchcock-style arc tectonic to the film that takes it way past Sarkar or Rajneethi.

See what a little loyalty gets you.

Mohan's Measure  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐