How Tamil cinema used songs to create political awareness

When the matinee idol MG Ramachandran sang ‘Yemmattraathe’ tune in Adimai Penn (1969), it was not construed as a innocent tune sung by his character however a direct assault towards the then institution. This was a time when politically-charged songs had been on the forefront in Tamil cinema music, virtually mimicking the political happenings of the State in an effort to create consciousness amongst Tamil individuals. 

This multidimensional nature of activism that was evident in Tamil movie music has now been made right into a seven-part video collection. In contrast to some other business, Tamil movie music has at all times been political, says filmmaker and author Okay Hariharan, who has put collectively an expansive listing of politically-charged songs proper from the Nineteen Fifties, highlighting what it stood for.

“The Dravidian motion got here into place to present Tamil individuals a brand new identification. And that was mirrored in Tamil movie songs,” says Hariharan, who has collaborated with music producer-analyst Subasree Thanikachalam, thought of a “strolling encyclopedia of Tamil songs”. They are going to be in dialog in the course of the finale live performance of ‘Activism in Tamil cinema’, slated to happen at Goethe-Institut on August 26.

The video collection is split into seven key areas of activism: social and political issues, energy of Tamil language, working class issues, issues of girls and youngsters, preserving the surroundings, city builders and residents, and activism in disguise.

“In a few of these movies, you discover a deep love for the Tamil language, be it ‘Senthamizh Nadenum Pothinile’ or ‘Thamizhukkum Amuthendru Per’,” he provides.

The house that political songs as soon as had in Tamil cinema has come down, Hariharan believes. “Not simply the political nature however in motion pictures like Annamalai or Baashsha, we had songs celebrating and revering working class professions,” he says.

Finally, the collection hopes to peel the varied layers of the songs and messaging to grasp activism in Tamil cinema higher. “Activism doesn’t at all times imply expressing anger. It’s to maintain you motivated and really feel for the Tamil trigger. Activism is way extra cultural,” says Hariharan.

The video collection will be watched on YouTube