Intergroup Violence and Spiritual Endurance in the Malayalam Film <i>Guru</i> : A Critical Posthumanist Inquiry

Abstract Critical posthumanism promotes a holistic approach to reconceptualizing human existence and addresses the issue of anthropocentrism creatively while upholding social justice and ethical accountability. This research article studies spiritual endurance amid communal conflicts as depicted in the Malayalam fantasy drama Guru [Mentor] (1997), directed by Rajiv Anchal, to highlight how spirituality emerges as an aid to understanding a renewed meaning of what it means to be (post)human. The study employs a qualitative content analysis of the movie using the theoretical concepts of (i) mystical spirituality to explore the spiritual journey of the protagonist and the guru–shishya [mentor–disciple] relationship, and (ii) posthuman affirmative ethics to understand the contemporary relevance of spirituality in transcending anthropocentric hierarchies. In doing so, the article contrasts religious fanaticism with spiritual holism and also argues that spirituality should be an integral aspect of the critical posthumanist standpoint of Rosi Braidotti, investigating newer avenues in posthuman studies and sustainable development goals.