ஸ்டாலின் ராஜாங்கம் எழுதிய "தமிழ் சினிமா - புனைவில் இயங்கும் சமூகம்"

திரு. ஸ்டாலின் ராஜாங்கம் எழுதிய இப்புத்தகம் தமிழ் சினிமாவில் சாதிய ரீதியான சித்தரிப்புகளைப் பற்றிய விரிவான ஒரு ஆய்வு. தமிழ் சினிமாவில் நீண்ட காலமாக படமாக்கபடும் வெளிப்படையான மற்றும் மறைமுகமான சாதி ரீதியான காட்சிகளை மேற்கோள் காட்டி அவற்றை சமூக சூழலோடு பொருத்திப் பார்க்கிறது இந்த ஆய்வு.

சாதிய அமைப்பு அழுத்தமாக வேரூன்றியிருக்கும் கிராமங்களையும், தென் தமிழக வட்டாரங்களையும் திரைப்படங்கள் எவ்வாறு பிரதிபலிக்கின்றன என்பதுடன் சாதிய அமைப்பை எப்படிப் பேணிக் காக்கின்றன என்பதையும் விவரிக்கிறது. பெரும்பாலும் எதார்த்தம் என ஊடகங்களாலும் விமர்சகர்களாலும் கூறப்படும் படங்கள் உண்மையில் இடைநிலை ஆதிக்க சாதியின் வழக்கங்களை கிராமிய வழக்கம் என பொதுமைப்படுத்தி நிருவிச் செல்வதையும், அவற்றை மீண்டும் மீண்டும் உற்பத்திச் செய்து அதையே எதார்த்தம் எனும் பிம்பமாய் கட்டமைப்பதையும், அவை இடைநிலை சாதிகளுக்குத் தரும் உளவியல் ரீதியான பலத்தையும் எளிமையாய் விளக்குகிறது.

சுய சாதி விமர்சனமின்றி எடுக்கப்படும் இப்படங்களில் ஒடுக்கப்பட்டோரின் நிலை உண்மைக்குப் புறம்பாகவோ வசதிக்கேற்ப மொளனப்படுத்தியோ கடத்திச் செல்வதும் வழக்கம் என எடுத்துக்காட்டுகளுடன் வரும் கட்டுரைகள் பார்வையாளனாக நம்மையும், நம் ரசனையையும் சுய மதிப்பீடு செய்யத் தூண்டுகின்றன. தியேட்டர்களுக்குச் சென்று விசிலடித்து, ஆர்ப்பரித்து, சில்லறைகளை சிதறவிட்டுப் பார்த்த காட்சிகளுக்குப் பின்னால் சுய சாதி பெருமையும், சாதிய குறியீடுகளும் இருப்பதை எழுத்தாளர் விளக்கி அந்தக் காட்சிகளில் வரும் நாயக சாகசங்களை, நரம்பு புடைக்கப் பேசும் வசனங்களை அடித்து உடைத்தெறிகிறார்.

இப்புத்தகத்தில் வரும் கட்டுரைகளில் ஆகச் சிறந்த கட்டுரை வடிவேலுவின் நகைச்சுவை பற்றிய பார்வை. அதிகார அடையாளங்கள் மற்றும் சாதிய அமைப்பு மீது எவ்வாறு வடிவேலுவின் நகைச்சுவைக் காட்சிகள் தாக்குதல் செய்கின்றன என்பதை ஆராய்கிறது. படத்தில் வரும் சாகச காட்சிகள் நம்பகத்தன்மையோடும், அதே சமயம் நகைச்சுவைக் காட்சிகள் நம்ப முடியாதவையாகவும் பார்க்கும் மனநிலை இங்கே உருவாகியிருப்பது அபத்தம் என தெள்ளத் தெளிவாய் காட்டுகிறது. உண்மையில் நகைச்சுவைக் காட்சிகளில் வரும் பாத்திரங்களே உண்மையான, எதார்த்தத்திற்கு நெருக்கமான பாத்திரங்கள். அதை வடிவேலு தன் எதார்த்தமான உடல்மொழியாலும், வட்டார வழக்காலும் திரையில் சிரமமின்றி கடத்துகிறார். இதை மீண்டும் நமக்கு வசனங்களையும், காட்சிகளையும் எடுத்துக்காட்டி நினைவூட்டுகிறது இக்கட்டுரை. இக்கருத்தை அப்பட்டமாக பிரதிபலிக்கும் தாமோ நாகபூஷனம் என்பவர் வரைந்த அட்டைப்படம் அட்டகாசம்.

இறுதியாக அண்மையில் வந்த தலித்துகளின் வாழ்வை பதிவு செய்து அவர்கள் குரலாய் ஒலித்த சில படங்களை விமர்சனத்திற்கு உட்படுத்தி, அதே சமயம் அவை சாதிய சினிமாக்களில் இருந்து எவ்வாறு விலகி நிற்கின்றன என்பதைக் காட்டுகிறார்.

இந்தப் புத்தகம் வாசித்தது ஒரு புது அனுபவம்.

Vaigaipuyal Vadivelu - An Invisible Member Of Family Ration Cards

What has changed in my conversations from 8 years back to now? What has changed in Tamizh Cinema from 8 years back to now? These questions had one surprisingly common answer - Vaigaipuyal Vadivelu. An 8-year hit movie drought for Vadivelu. The usage of Vadivelu dialogues in our day to day conversations with friends and family. Despite the 8-year hit movie drought, Vadivelu has managed to cling on to our minds. How many of you use Vadivelu's one-liners everyday? Almost everyone, almost everyday. If there is a survey for the usage of Tamizh film dialogues in day-to-day life, Vadivelu's one-liners are sure to top the charts. Sometimes, most of us will be trying to find opportunities to use his dialogue to make the atmosphere delightful. "Ithugalum nammala follow panuthae!" How does Vadivelu sustain the craze even today?

Vadivelu started his career with Rajkiran's "En Rasavin Manasile" as a sidekick to legendary comedian Koundamani. With the few screen appearances which he was given, he managed to grab the audience's eye. Singaravelan is one sample. "Wowww... Sattae melae evlooo buttaen" is still one trending dialogue in social media. His roles transformed and he bagged big roles and big movies. A director who doesn't believe in separate comedy tracks in his movies, Bharathi Raja maintained a separate comedy track for Vadivelu in "Kizhakku Cheemaiyilae". That is the extent of his reach among the theatre going audience.

In the 2000s, Vadivelu's career graph reached its peak and he delivered back to back hit comedy tracks. He was celebrated by the masses in the theatres. There were heroes who waited for his call sheet before signing up a movie. There were movies which became blockbusters just because of one name - Vaigaipuyal Vadivelu. His combination with mainstream heroes still has no replacement. His on-screen chemistry with the entire cast of a film has a high success ratio, be it a superstar or a heroine or a supporting actor. We have seen him as a building contractor, a conductor, a rowdy, a don, a beggar, a police constable, a fisherman, a call centre employee, an auto-driver, a politician, a king, a grave digger and the list goes on and on. He has probably performed more diverse roles than Ulaganayagan Kamalhaasan in his 24 year film career. His comedies are a huge hit. His one word "Aahaan" was all over FB at the start of 2015. Only those who follow Tamizh Cinema know that the "Aahaan" comedy released in 2007. A film that runs 100 - 200 days is called a blockbuster. What should a scene which trends on all social networks and all TV channels even after 8 years from its release be called?

Everything he does - his introduction scene, his facial expressions, his body language while delivering punchlines, his dialogue delivery, his tone modulation, his famous one-liners, even his interjections makes the theatre crowd burst out with laughter. The last line has his skill set just for comedy. He has also shined as a supporting actor and he has outperformed the rest of the cast in many emotional sequences. Vadivelu has also lent his voice for a handful of songs. His voice is almost perfect for the "gaana" genre which is again justified by his rural origin. 

How does he manage to pull off such rib-tickling, crowd pleasing comedy scenes? He replies to this question in one of his interviews. The dialogues, interjections, reactions, body language come out of his observation skills. He observes interesting characters and people he comes across everyday and reflect their mannerisms on-screen. No wonder, there is a real taste of nativity and authenticity in his acting. His accent and slang have the authenticity which easily relates him to the common man we see everyday.He can give 4 different reactions in a split of 4 consecutive frames. The split second change in reaction itself is a treat to watch.

"London la lotaayi lobby aairuva", "Oor la ulla ellaa sub jail-layum, en subject ah thaandaa paadama vechu nadathurainga en sipppss eh!", "Ellathayum visaarichitu thaanda vanthu aerirukom en jeans eh!", "Aama.. Naama laam periya lord langodu" - the words chips, jeans, lobby, lord langodu doesn't mean anything in his context, but you still sit and enjoy these, you may also use one of these with your friends. His dialogues have become a household, with kids, youngsters and adults using them often. In the past year, there have been atleast 5-10 movie titles with Vadivelu's dialogues.
 

Originating from a small village in the outskirts of Madurai, he has become the most popular actor from Tamizh Cinema and he has reached each and every house in Tamizh Nadu with his omnipresence in television. With the onset of memes era in Facebook and Twitter, Vadivelu holds the major share of memes posted. His dialogues, screenshots of his body language, images of his facial expressions, sequence of his comedy scenes prove the reach he has with the Tamizh audience. When you read a Vadivelu meme posted online, you will always read it in his slang. Yes, that comes out involuntarily. 

His stint with politics was short-lived and he took a 2 year break. Tamizh Cinema had sidelined him with the onset of new comedians during this period. His comeback wagons "Tenali Raman" and "Eli" backfired. There are people who still get reminded of Vadivelu when they see a weak comical scene in the theatres. I am one among them. "End card poatu egathaalaamaa da panringa... enaku end ae kedaiyaathu da!"

After a bad day at office, you reach home very late. Everyone at home has slept. Barely in need of a company to vent out the mounted pressure and stress, you find in front of you, the TV remote. You switch on the TV and the last viewed channel pops up. "Vandhutaanyaa... Vandhutaanyaa..." - this dialogue welcomes you home and for the first time in last fourteen and half hours, your face gets a smile. You watch the whole comedy and not an instant did the smile go away. Vadivelu is the best stress buster!

After the launch of 24x7 comedy channels in Tamizh, Vadivelu has become a household member. Atleast every 10 minutes, his comedy runs in one or the other comedy channel. Over the weekends, when you're enjoying his comedy in TV, try to reduce the volume in your TV to inaudible levels. You will still hear his voice crystal clear - either in your mind or from the TV in your neighbouring house. You can switch on your TV set or scroll through your news feed only to agree with this undeniable truth. Vaigaipuyal Vadivelu is undoubtedly the Superstar of comedy! His throne is going to remain empty until his comeback!

An apt line written for Vadivelu in one of his songs -

"பிறர் சிரிக்க பார்த்து சிரிப்பேன்
அவர் மொகத்த பார்த்து ரசிப்பேன்
அதில் இருக்கும் சொகத்த நெனச்சு நெனச்சு கண்ணீர் வடிப்பேன்
அதில் கவலை மறப்பேன்
என் கலையும் இதுதான்
என் தொழிலும் இதுதான்"

"Nallaa thaane sollirukaan... Nallaa kanichu thaanae yaa solirukaan!" 

- Arun Bharathi, a member of Vadivelu's Varuthapadatha vaalibar sangam.


Edited version of this article published in Behindwoods - Behindwoods Article


Thanks - Vaigaipuyal Vadivelu, Troll Cinema, Swameme

Rajinikanth - Not a name... An Identity...

Sivaji Rao @ Rajinikanth
Entry into the gates of Tamizh Cinema

A bus conductor from karnataka entered tamizh nadu in 1975, and as usual "Vanthaara vaazha veikum Tamizhnaadu". When tamizh cinema was being ruled by fair-and-handsome heroes, no one would have thought of a superstar-entry in his form. The gates of tamizh cinema opened to welcome a dark complexioned, rustic looking man in apoorva ragangal. Yes, the voice of tamizh cinema was the apoorva raaga from then on.

The moment he entered the tamizh film industry, he lost his identity - There can't be two sivajis. Sivaji Rao had only two choices - two character names from KB's stage drama - Major Chandrakanth. On Holi day, tamizh cinema found its colour - Rajinikanth was born. Many of his performances were overshadowed by stalwart kamalhaasan, during their collaboration in earlier years. After playing the villain opposite kamalhaasan in many movies, he changed shades to play the hero in Bairavi, which fetched him the superstar title from then-distributor now-producer Kalaipuli S.Dhanu.

Mala da! Anna Mala! Style at its peak!

The audience went crazy over his cigarette style. There is nothing he can't do with a cigarette - A flip of a cigarette from a one arm distance to his mouth, lighting a flying cigar with a bullet shot from the gun, taking out a cigarette from a folded tongue, lighting a cigar with just his eyes and what not. Everyone would have tried the signature cigarette style atleast once. The gap between "audience" and "fans" suddenly became a cigarette's length and Rajinikanth had no trouble filling it. His audience turned into his fans. His speed and style became his USP and he became unstoppable. The mere mention of his character name can trigger the "mass-appeal" he has - Alex Pandian, Maanick Baadshah, Kaali, Kabali.

Sivaji - The Boss Coin Toss Scene
Perfect Interval Block Transformation

Evident from the last lines of the previous stanza, he has often had dialogues which raised questions on his entry into politics. My stanzas are now taking an anthaathi format. In 1995, there raised a huge speculation on his entry into politics. It did not happen. Rajinikanth's "Padayappa" had dialogues which looked to be directed against politicians. But, once again, he shut the doors for his political entry. There has always been a suspense about his political entry. This "suspense" only adds to his personality both in reel as well as real life.

Ayyaa.. En paeru maanickam...
Enaku inoru paerum iruku...
The marana maass level!

Yes, the reel and real life. Again, the "anthaathi" format. There is stark difference in his on-screen and off-screen appearances. He is always seen in public sans his makeup. He takes a huge transformation from off-screen to on-screen and this transformation again adds weight to his personality. Transformation is BAU for him as evident from the epic transformation scenes in Baadshah, Annamalai, Sivaji and Enthiran. Transformation from a bus conductor to a superstar is just another sample. His on-screen persona transfers energy to the already-high voltage audience. A Rajini movie never ever disappoints. There is no suspense in his movies, the next scene of his is always evident. How does he sustain the audience in theatres then? Though the next scene in his movie is evident, there is always a Rajini stamp in it which makes the audience erupt with whistles and screams. This connect he has with the theatre going crowd sets the box office on fire. His screen presence is brilliant and he grabs the audience's eyes in every frame of his. What does a Rajini movie give you? What more do you need other than the man himself? - "Neenga vanthaa mattum poathum... Neenga vanthaaaaaa mattummm poathum".

Kochadaiyaan - Rajinikanth conveying his thanks to fans

The songs in his movies have lyrics written for his fans, especially the opening song. His intro itself is a dharisanam for his fans. Adding to this, are the intelligent lyrics of vairamuthu and vaali. "En kadaisi varai kooda varum kootaniyum neethaan" from arunachalam, "Maalaigal ida vaendam, thanga magudam thara vaendam, tamizh thaai naadu thantha anbu pothumae... En oru sottu vaervaiku oru poun thanga kaasu koduthathu tamizh allava, en udal porul aaviyai tamizhukum, tamizharkum kodupathu murai allavaa" from padayappa, "Annai vaari koduthathu thaai paalu, ennai vaazha veithathu tamizh paalu" from annamalai have added to his "connect" factor with his fans. He uses cinema as a medium to interact with his fans - "Ungalin vaazhthukkalaal uyir kondu ezhunthu vitaen, vaazhthia manangalukku en vaazhkaiyai vazhangivitaen" - from kochadaiyaan as a thanks to his fans.

Kabali - Swag Redefined

After a point of time, there was nothing Rajini can't do. His image transformed from a man-next-door to God-next-door. His fans celebrate him. These are not mere celebrations, but this is the famous hero-worship of tamizh naadu. The tradition of tamizh naadu has had live instances of saviours, elders, leaders worshipped as God. Their on-screen idol has now turned into an off-screen paramaathmaa. He is only next to MGR to achieve this status. The news of a Rajini film not faring well at the box office makes crores of people unhappy. His illness after enthiran showed the world what hero worship is.  When he bounced back with kochadaiyaan and lingaa, Rajini's fans were the happiest in the world. Lingaa might be a so-called flop, but... Rajinikanth is always a hit. Yea, he is a phoenix, he is going to bounce back again. "Poada... Aandavanae namma pakkam irukaan.."

The off-screen person he is... Simple & Humble.
Yet, his style never vanishes!

Many might doubt the actor within Rajinikanth. But, there are some movies where he clears off the doubt with ease - mullum malarum, aarilirunthu arubadhu varai are testimonies. The hidden acting potential within him is hidden because of his fan's expectations. - "(Signature laugh) Sivaajiyum naan thaan MGR-um naan thaan".

A Rajini movie release is a festival in tamizh naadu. "Theatre kootamaa irunthaa aetho star padam release-u. Theatre ae theriyaatha alavukku kootamaa irunthaa athu superstar padam release-u." Yes, punch dialogues are nothing new to his fans. They are what he is. He is what they are. Ruling a cinema industry for 40 long years sustaining a huge fan base is no mean achievement. 

He has become an identity for Tamil Nadu in his 40 year career, a humongous effort!

- Arun Bharathi, a member of the "Anbu saamraajyam".

P.S. - Kannuu... Ithu summa trailer thaan ma... Main picture inum nee paakalayae... Iniku kulla mudiyathu....


Article (edited) published in behindwoods - Behindwoods Article