Kabali & the Portuguese rule

Now that the Kabali film is released and many of my friends have watched it, what does the term mean? What is the history & philosophy surrounding it?

The character's name in the film is Kabaleeshwaran. This is derived from Samskritam (Kapalam, Eshwaran). Literally, it means, Lord of the skull. This refers to the topmost portion of the head is called the Sahasrara Chakra, which is where the soul/Self/Jivaatma resides (per Kundalini Yoga).

There is a Kapaleeshwaran temple in Mylapore, Chennai. And there are Thevarams sung by the Nayanmars. Intriguingly, Thirugnanasambandar sings of this temple being on the beach beside the ocean. However, the current temple is not on the beach. What happened?

In the 16th century, the Portuguese colonists secured a foot-hold in the sea-port of Mylapore, Chennai. Once established, they started demolishing the Hindu temples in the areas under their control. The Kapaleeshwarar temple was demolished and the Sao Tome church built in its place.

Rama Raya, the Hindu king of Vijayanagara waged a battle with the Portuguese and defeated them. He extracted a tribute from them and also an agreement to stop further temple demolitions. However, Vijayanagara was later to fall to ruin & defeat by the Deccan Sultanate. Once Vijayanagara fell, the agreement was no longer honored.

In the 17th century, the Portuguese were defeated by the British. After the end of the Portuguese rule, the Kapaleeshwarar temple was rebuilt with whatever could be salvaged from the old ruins, but in a different location. The British later renovated the Sao Tome (Santhome) church.

The colonial Portuguese, in history, ran stomach-churning inquisitions on the locals in the territories that they conquered. Brazil was the prime victim. In India, the Portuguese inquisition on Goa had brutal tortures & executions. Other infamous expeditions were by Vasco-da-Gama in the Malabar coast in Kerala. The Pope, who had apologized for the Christians' behavior in Africa, was called upon (unsuccessfully) to do the same for Goa as well.

After India's independence from the British, Portugal continued to hold Goa, refusing India's requests to relinquish control. India filed a case in the International court of Justice, Hague. In 1954, the locals performed Satyagraha in true Gandhian tradition to ask Portugal to relinquish control. Unsurprisingly, given Portugal's historical behavior, they were brutally suppressed. India broke off diplomatic relations & imposed economic embargoes. India also unsuccessfully tried to persuade the Portuguese government & the international community. In 1960, the ICJ issued a compromise verdict. In 1961, India militarily invaded Goa with a far superior force & brought it under its control. Portugal setup a government in exile for these territories. It wasn't until 1974 under a new government when Portugal would recognize Goa as Indian territory.

References:
Book: The Myth of Saint Thomas and the Mylapore Shiva Temple by Ishwar Sharan