Madurai Formula Films: Caste Pride and Politics in Tamil Cinema
Whilst much has been written about the significance of caste in Tamil politics, there has been less attention paid to the ways in which caste is played out in the cultural sphere. This is particularly surprising given the close links between cinema, caste and politics in the state. In this paper we...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Centre d’Etudes de l’Inde et de l’Asie du Sud
2017-06-01
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| Series: | South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/samaj/4359 |
| _version_ | 1826943693023608832 |
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| author | Karthikeyan Damodaran Hugo Gorringe |
| author_facet | Karthikeyan Damodaran Hugo Gorringe |
| author_sort | Karthikeyan Damodaran |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Whilst much has been written about the significance of caste in Tamil politics, there has been less attention paid to the ways in which caste is played out in the cultural sphere. This is particularly surprising given the close links between cinema, caste and politics in the state. In this paper we offer an analysis of feature films produced since 1985 to suggest that representations of caste dominance have served to reinforce caste-based identities and a social common-sense which equates particular intermediate castes with dominance, valor, heroism and violence. Additionally we argue that there is a symbiotic relationship between caste politics and cinema particularly through the naturalization of intermediate caste markers and narratives. |
| first_indexed | 2025-02-17T20:25:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e0b7c567e95445988371cd783562a43a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1960-6060 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-17T20:25:06Z |
| publishDate | 2017-06-01 |
| publisher | Centre d’Etudes de l’Inde et de l’Asie du Sud |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-e0b7c567e95445988371cd783562a43a2024-12-09T13:01:38ZengCentre d’Etudes de l’Inde et de l’Asie du SudSouth Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal1960-60602017-06-0110.4000/samaj.4359Madurai Formula Films: Caste Pride and Politics in Tamil CinemaKarthikeyan DamodaranHugo GorringeWhilst much has been written about the significance of caste in Tamil politics, there has been less attention paid to the ways in which caste is played out in the cultural sphere. This is particularly surprising given the close links between cinema, caste and politics in the state. In this paper we offer an analysis of feature films produced since 1985 to suggest that representations of caste dominance have served to reinforce caste-based identities and a social common-sense which equates particular intermediate castes with dominance, valor, heroism and violence. Additionally we argue that there is a symbiotic relationship between caste politics and cinema particularly through the naturalization of intermediate caste markers and narratives.https://journals.openedition.org/samaj/4359conflictcasteidentityTamil cinemahonor |
| spellingShingle | Karthikeyan Damodaran Hugo Gorringe Madurai Formula Films: Caste Pride and Politics in Tamil Cinema South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal conflict caste identity Tamil cinema honor |
| title | Madurai Formula Films: Caste Pride and Politics in Tamil Cinema |
| title_full | Madurai Formula Films: Caste Pride and Politics in Tamil Cinema |
| title_fullStr | Madurai Formula Films: Caste Pride and Politics in Tamil Cinema |
| title_full_unstemmed | Madurai Formula Films: Caste Pride and Politics in Tamil Cinema |
| title_short | Madurai Formula Films: Caste Pride and Politics in Tamil Cinema |
| title_sort | madurai formula films caste pride and politics in tamil cinema |
| topic | conflict caste identity Tamil cinema honor |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/samaj/4359 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT karthikeyandamodaran maduraiformulafilmscasteprideandpoliticsintamilcinema AT hugogorringe maduraiformulafilmscasteprideandpoliticsintamilcinema |