Veteran filmmaker Bharathiraja has officially launched “Nithilan Vaakumoolam”, the third and final installment of author and lyricist Kabilan Vairamuthu’s time-travel science fiction trilogy, “Aagol”. The release was commemorated through a special video presentation filmed at the director’s residence on New Year’s Day, marking the conclusion of a literary project that spans five years of research and writing.
“Nithilan Vaakumoolam” is structured as a murder mystery investigating the death of the series’ central figure, Nithilan. Beyond the narrative intrigue, the novel engages in a critical dialogue regarding the future of artificial intelligence, drawing specific inspiration from the works of Canadian AI activist Joy Buolamwini. Vairamuthu described the comprehensive trilogy as the “message of my life to the next generation,” highlighting the extensive field work required to blend historical facts with speculative fiction.
The “Aagol” franchise, named after a second-century Tamil term for cattle theft, juxtaposes the historical struggles of the Perungamanallur people under British India’s Criminal Tribes Act with contemporary digital dilemmas. The first book, released in 2022, tackled the colonial act alongside themes of big data culture and privacy. The sequel, “Machiavelli Kaappiyam” (2024), expanded on the history of Madurai’s ‘Ettu Naadugal’ while discussing internet independence.
This final chapter aims to resolve the overarching themes of the series, bridging the gap between colonial oppression and the algorithmic biases of the modern era. Following the digital launch, Discovery Publications has organized an event where the author will interact directly with readers on January 4 in Chennai.