THE RISE OF A 'NEW AGE KATHANAYAKI' IN TAMIL CINEMA : EXPLORING THE FRAMING AND CONSTRUCTION OF HEROINES IN CONTEMPORARY FEMALE-CENTRIC TAMIL FILMS

Abstract

Tamil cinema, colloquially referred to as Kollywood has predominantly thrived on a standard formula of storytelling that has proven to be commercially successful. This is referred to as the masala formula. Under this formula, mainstream Tamil films predominantly feature a concoction of elements such as a heterosexual romance, song and dance sequences, fight scenes, high dosage of melodrama and above all, a hero-driven storyline. However, over the last five years, Tamil cinema has been swept by a ‘new wave’ that has led to audiences witnessing monumental shifts in terms of the narratives structures, cinematography styles and presentation of on-screen characters. The ‘new wave’ has also rejuvenated the trend of female-centric films that were once an intrinsic feature of Tamil cinema in the 1970s. This paper seeks to unpack the extent to which the kathanayakis (heroines) under this ‘new wave’ differ from the older kathanaykis that have emerged in Tamil cinema through an analysis of three contemporary female-centric films: Aramm (2017), Aruvi (2017) and Naachiyaar (2018).