Here are the infrequent essays and columns I talk about.
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Serial Chiller: Marmadesam—Tamil’s truly captivating nostalgia TV is coming episode-by-episode to YouTube
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Ms. En Scene: When Seven Tamil Cinema Women Turn Superheroes
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Serial chiller: Tamizha Tamizha—A comfortably centrist talk show where the personal doesn’t get political enough
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Remembering Crazy Mohan: A breath of fresh laughs
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Ms. En Scene: ‘Ayogya’ – ‘Anniyan’ For The Era Of #NotAllMen
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Serial Chiller: Thiravam is an earnest but mediocre and unsatisfying attempt at multi-genre fiction
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Serial Chiller: Web series Auto Shankar, although engaging in parts, ultimately disappoints
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Ms. En Scene: The Occupational Hazards Of A ‘Film Writer’
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Serial Chiller: I watched mega-serials every day for two months; why I plan to continue
This is the edition edition of my monthly column on Tamil television for Firstpost. First published here. What if the Bahubali franchise was made for, with and by women? Benevolent and just warrior queen Amarendrika would have been the hero. She would be so pious and devoted that Lord Shiva himself would protect her and…
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Ms En Scene: Dei Telugu Cinema, Where Were You Hiding Your Gentle Lovers All This While, Ra?
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Ms En Scene: The Road To Tamil Cinema Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions
So, Aaruthra is also full of good intentions. Pa Vijay intends to make an awareness campaign for child sexual abuse — “Like how Strawberry (his previous film) imparted a huge relevant message, Aaruthrawill also have one for the society,” he told the Deccan Chronicle. From the way he treats the film, it’s easy to understand that for Pa Vijay, Aaruthra isn’t an ordinary…
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From ‘Kaala’ To ‘Pariyerum Perumal’, The Best Tamil Films Of 2018
2018 began like any year does in the Tamil film world with popular male actor-led love-action fare like Gulebagavali, Sketch and Thaanaa Serndha Koottam, occupying large screens. Vijay Sethupathi had five releases this year, Prabhudeva and Jyotika had three, and Rajinikanth, Vikram, Vishal and Nayantara had two films each in lead roles. Yet this year also saw many miracles.…
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Making the audience do the homework
Amy Jackson, playing Nila — Nice Intelligent Lovely Assistant — in Rajnikanth’s latest 2.0 (2018), says, “vada poche” to great comic effect. It is a joke that only makes sense if you know the reference to a Vadivelu comedy from another film. Nila is perhaps the first robot to indulge in some self-referential pastiche that Tamil cinema…
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Ms En Scene: Baalu Of ‘Kaatrin Mozhi’ Is The Ally Tamil Cinema Heroes Need
Within the first five minutes of watching Kaatrin Mozhi (2018), I fell in love. As a Jyotika fan — even during her Kushi (2000) days — I went to watch Kaatrin Mozhi expecting to love her. I’d watched Tumhari Sulu (2017), the Hindi original. Naturally, I expected Jyotika to do one better. So, when I fell in love with Baalu, played by the…
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Ms En Scene: Tips To Unleash Your Inner Hero With Some Help From Tamil Cinema
For some strange reason, I found myself empathising with him. No, in fact, I found myself relating to him. Yes, you read that right. The need to achieve higher purpose, but the pressure of this misunderstanding society on my shoulders…. Finally, I had to address my life’s biggest existential question of my life, “Am I…
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Ms En Scene: Confessions Of A Kuppai Padam Addict
Nearly two years ago, one December evening, my friend Vinay and I went to watch Katthi Sandai(2016). For the uninitiated (good on you, mate!), Katthi Sandai is an action-drama-musical-thriller-romance-comedy film, featuring Vishal, Tamannah, Soori and Vadivelu, among others. I had invited my friend to watch the movie with me: I was a Vishal fan, I still am. My…
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Ms En Scene: A warm welcome To Kokila & Mahathi, Tamil Screen’s Postmodern Anti-Heroes
A manipulative, self-aware and sharp female anti-hero is new for Tamil cinema. Historically, they tend to be arrogant vamps — Neelambari of Padayappa (1999), tamed heroines — Shanti Devi of Mannan(1992) or lost opportunities, like Mary of Padikkadhavan (1985). Kokila is nothing like any of her predecessors. She isn’t a villain, she is in fact, the hero. My column is…
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Ms En Scene: In Praise Of Saranya Ponvannan, The Mother That I Never Had
My love for Saranya Ponvannan began in a very Tamil Padam sort of way. I truly took notice of her only when she waved her velakkamaaru (broom stick) and brought it down with inimitable vigour on the transgressing Dhanush in Velai Illa Pattadhaari (2014). In the film, she plays Dhanush’s tough-loving mother — the scene with the broomstick is…