A single man (so called HERO) fighting lonely with baddies to save the world, running around the trees with his girl accompanied by forty group dancers, hero speaking leng…..thy dialogues and the villain changes his mind, a family song which unites the son and his parents and the list goes on and on ……..
Yeah, this is what Tamil films have been showing us till these years. But people have probably tired of watching these clichés of watching heroes making dramatic entries, speaking punch dialogues (one does not know why it is called so??), fighting with fifty baddies (heavier than hero) all alone in a routine format.
This has opened the Tamil film fraternity eyes, tickles their creativity and is coming up with new and innovative stories. The Tamil film industry is undergoing a transformation from the stereotypes to different story line and in its treatment. Kollywood has opened its door to various different genres say fantasy adventure, period films, spoof, multi-starrer, cowboy films, sci-fiction, you name it, they have it ….
An important and healthy change that the industry requires is that, now- a day’s audiences not only watch big star’s movies, but also give it a try to the newcomers. Thanks to the new directors who are trying to take up Tamil cinema to next level. Films like Subramaniyapuram, Pasanga, Renigunda, Porkalam, Chennai-28 did not have a great star cast, but definitely a great and different story line with a pinch of realism that made these films a huge success. But on the other hand films like Villu, Aegan, Mariyadai, Kuselan were a forgettable movies for the big stars, because of the stereotype storyline. The moral of the failure of these big movies is, the audience is bored of the repeated storyline, predictable screenplay, unwanted item songs, punch dialogues, double meaning wits, comedian getting beaten up etc.
Directors like Selvaraghavan should be credited for giving a new look to Tamil movies with his Ayirathil Oruvan, an archeological adventure film, which Tamil cinema has never seen before. Tamil padam, the recent blockbuster movies is one of its kinds – a Tamil spoof film that has criticized all the Tamil film’s clichés.
Tamil films and Songs were regarded as inseparables, but that’s not the case now. Gautham Menon’s ‘Nadunisi Naygal’ which is to hit the screens soon is said to have no songs in it, not even background score. Thanks to Kamal, who tried this in his Unnaipol Oruvan. Venkatprabhu should be mentioned here for bravely bringing the idea of gay relationship (Goa) to tamil cinema which is considered as a taboo in our country. Also Gautham’s debut film as producer ‘Azhagarsamium Kuthiraiyum’ will move around only with two characters for most of the film. The protagonist and his horse. Also movies like Irumbu Kotai Murattu singam (a cowboy film which is coming back to tamil films after 35 years) and Rajini’s magnum opus ‘Endhiran’ the highest budget film ever produced in India is all about Sci-fiction and Robotics. Coolll ….. (As he says!!!).
Off course I do accept that the typical masala films like Singam, Naan Mahan Alla are also becoming hits, but then the numbers of such films is decreasing.
It doesn’t stop here. Kollywood is also heading towards advanced technology. We can see films being canned using digital camera REDONE (Unnaipoloruvan, Tamil padam), I also read that the ALEXA arris’s new model camera has been bought by Anand Cine Serives. ‘Aranyakandam’ is the tamil film that uses SI-2K camera that was used in Slumdog Millionaire.
I can even proudly say that our tamil film industry (south indian films) produce more meaningful films than Bollywood which is only good in showing too much of sex and violence, and expensive films, but boast them self that they get more international recognitions. There was a situation where people thought that indian film is only hindhi films. but this is changing.
Our tamil films are also reaching out to broader audiences and getting international acclaims. Courtesy: A.R.Rahman. A.R.’s musical Vinnaithandi Varuvaya and Endhiran had its audio launch in London and Singapore respectively. Maniratham being felicitated by Jaeger-LeCoultre 'Glory to the Filmmaker Award' in Venice. Raam, Mozhi, Raavanan, Achamundu, and many other films have got international recognitions.
So we can hope that a refreshing change is in the cards for the Tamil films! And it’s also our duty to encourage these changes by watching it ONLY in THEATRES ! ! !
