Tamil Cinema-la Jathi Politics: Art-aa? Aagaya Reality-vaa?
Tamil cinema has always been more than just entertainment. From Nattamai to Karnan, our films have subtly — and sometimes strongly — reflected the realities of our society. But one topic that continues to spark debate and intense discussion is caste politics in Tamil films. How has this evolved over the decades? And are these movies preaching division, or revealing hidden truths?
From ‘Village Elders’ to Revolt Leaders – The Journey of Jathi in Cinema
In the 90s, movies like Thevar Magan showcased powerful caste hierarchies, often glorifying them in the name of culture and honor. These films gave us intense drama and emotional stories — but they also came under fire for subtly reinforcing caste pride and dominance. Fast forward to today, and we have directors like Pa. Ranjith, Vetri Maaran, and Mari Selvaraj, who flip that narrative.
Films like:
- Pariyerum Perumal – Showed the brutal reality of caste discrimination in educational spaces.
- Karnan – A symbolic and fiery revolt against systemic oppression.
- Kaala and Kabali – Brought Dalit identity and pride to the mainstream hero genre.
Why So Much Controversy?
When Bollywood tried its hand with films like Article 15 or Marathi cinema gave us Fandry, the backlash was immediate. People asked: “Is this cinema, or propaganda?” But that begs another question — who decides what stories are allowed to be told?
Are these “jathi padangal” just rants against the system? Or are they mirror reflections of realities many want to ignore?
And here’s the twist — even within the Tamil industry, there’s a divide. Directors like Mohan G take the opposite route, pushing films that assert dominant caste identity, often in reaction to anti-caste narratives. This back-and-forth has created a cinematic caste battlefield, and audiences are divided in their views.
