For philosopher Gilles Deleuze, « the affection-image is the close-up shot and the close-up shot is the face ». Indeed, close-up is not only a film technique to focus on an element, it actually creates […]
Suit up and emancipate : the diverging parallel between ‘Kabali’ and ‘Django Unchained’
There is an organic political and philosophical link between Kabali and Django. They represent subaltern and oppressed communities, whether it’s Tamil plantations workers in 20th century Malaysia or Black slaves in 19th century America. They […]
My tormented love story with ‘Moondram Pirai’
Nota bene : this essay was written some months ago, between december and january, and there could be some spoilers for those who haven’t watched the film. I’ve watched Moondram Pirai four times since my […]
Stolen kisses : the violence behind the icon
Three iconic images hiding a violent rape culture. Three women forcefully kissed by a man in front of a camera and an audience. Three sexual assaults that have been considered for years as passionate romantic […]
Behind Silk Smitha : caste, sexism and celluloid image.
I grew up with the idea that Silk Smitha was the incarnation of all the taboos my tamil family didn’t want to talk about : sexuality, sensuality, women’s bodies, gender inequalities. I guess she was the […]
The tree of life : Punnagai Mannan & Raavanan
When I saw Raavanan a few years ago, this image of Raagini (Aishwarya Rai), fallen on a tree, immediately reminded me of this iconic opening scene in Punnagai Mannan, where Sethu (Kamal Haasan) escapes death […]
Kamal Haasan, child of cinema
As far as I can remember, in a countless number of interviews and speeches, I have always heard Kamal Haasan talking about himself as a child of Tamil Cinema, narrating how, he, the little three […]
தென்பாண்டி சீமையிலே | Pulamaipithan’s words
« Thenpandi cheemayile » is the seed from which Nayagan’s story grows. When Ilaiyaaraja’s voice breaks the silence in the film’s opening credits, we understand that it’s an introduction song about Sakthivel. A child whose […]
No time for love in “Kadhalum Kadanthu Pogum”
Kathir (Vijay Sethupathy) is a semi-looser rowdy who dreams about owning a bar. Yazhini (Madonna Sebastian) is a graduated engineer searching for a job. At first glance, they have nothing in common other than being […]
Remembering Sujatha’s words
I just learned that writer Sujatha would have turned 84 today. Millions words would be needed to explain the importance of this master of words, this Srirangam’s child in Tamil literature and cinema. He, the […]
1916 