V17N22025

Jeeva V¹ , Padmanabhan T^2* , Sunesh K S³ & Poovarasan G^{4  
1,3,4}Research scholar, Department of Visual Communication, College of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, India.
²Assistant Professor, Department of Visual Communication, Faculty of Science and Humanities, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, India. *Corresponding Author.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 17, Issue 2, 2025. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v17n2.05g
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Abstract

Cinema, beyond being a medium for entertainment, serves as a tool of expression on society’s socioeconomic, political, and cultural dimensions, says Damodaran (2017). In that aspect, the Tamil movie Karnan (2021), directed by Mari Selvaraj, is a notable cinematic portrayal of caste oppression and resistance in Tamil Nadu. This research paper aims to examine the film Karnan in relation to Dravidian ideology. The study focuses on aspects such as the depiction of caste oppression and social justice, as it parallels the real-life struggles of Dalits. The study utilizes a Dravidian ideological framework to emphasize the film’s portrayal of caste-based discrimination, state violence, and collective resistance. By employing a qualitative analysis approach, including critical discourse analysis, the study critically interprets how Karnan aligns with Dravidian principles like self-respect, social justice and anti-caste politics. The research findings reveal how it reinterprets mythology, critiques systemic oppression, and amplifies the voices of subaltern groups. This study, with the historical, socio-economic, and political contexts of Karnan, presents a compelling narrative that contests prevailing caste structures and underscores the fundamental values of the Dravidian movement.

Keywords: Dravidian Ideology, socio-economic Caste, Karnan movie, social justice, Tamil cinema.

Naren Kumar N L^1* & R. Subramani^{2  
1}PhD. Research Scholar, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Periyar University, Salem, India. *Corresponding author.
²Professor, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Periyar University, Salem, India.

^{Rupkatha Journal, Vol. 17, Issue 2, 2025. https://doi.org/10.21659/rupkatha.v17n2.04g
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Abstract

M.R. Radha, the iconic actor of Tamil cinema, is renowned for his villainous roles in the industry. Being an actor who has appeared in a variety of roles like comedian, hero, character role, etc., his villainy and his Anti-hero roles have gained popularity among the Tamil cinema audience. M.R. Radha’s cinematic journey gave rise to a political consciousness among the audiences. His dialogues and anti-hero archetypes on screen forged a political consciousness that turned out to be the vehicle of the Dravidian wave in Tamil cinema. M.R. Radha’s on-screen presence became a site of ideological resistance that reflected subverting caste hierarchies, questioning religious orthodoxy and voicing the rationalist, anti-Brahminical tenets of the Self-Respect Movement. This paper examines the radical discourses in the film Rathakanneer to analyze how they promoted political consciousness within the Dravidian wave of Tamil cinema. Through a descriptive analysis, this paper investigates how M.R. Radha’s films foster political consciousness by analyzing how his Dialogues and characters challenge dominant moral, social, and political narratives, promoting the social justice values of the Self-respect movement.

Keywords: Social Justice, Anti-Hero, M.R. Radha, Storytelling as a Radical Tool, Political consciousness.