Madurai Formula Films: Caste Pride and Politics in Tamil Cinema

• Main Authors: Karthikeyan Damodaran, Hugo Gorringe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centre d’Etudes de l’Inde et de l’Asie du Sud 2017-06-01
• Series: South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal
• Subjects: Tamil cinema; caste; conflict; honor; identity
• Online Access: http://journals.openedition.org/samaj/4359

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.