Kollywood, why did you let this city down?
Yes, I know I had a previous post that started with “Kollywood’s love affair with the city continues” but this one is about a serious lapse that no self-respecting Tamil belonging to this city can tolerate. Here is a simple test. Go to http://www.imdb.com and type in either Chennai or Madras. This and this are what you get. No movie that is simply titled either “Chennai” or “Madras”. Nothing. Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Not even a documentary. While there are films like Bombay (made by a famous Thamizh director), New Delhi (in Malayalam) and even an English film titled Calcutta. Not to forget Hollywood’s example – “Philadelphia”, a city I lived in for two years. So what has Kollywood, the dream factory South of the Vindhyas and which releases on an average three to four movies per week, done to fill this void? Or am I sowing the seed of an idea for one of you to make a movie with this city name (alone) for a movie title? If you are, be advised that you need to put “Thennavan – a die-hard Chennai-loving Indian Blogger” in the credits. Illennaa vakkeel notice veettukku varum asking you to “show cause as to why you cannot be sued in a court of law“, jaagradhai ;-).
Well, there have been a couple of Masala-flicks with Madras somewhere in the title, but they better not show up on IMDB. :D
But have a film (probably commercial), what story can you come up with that will make the cash-registers ring and at the same time show you the culture and history of Madras. Well, Bombay had the riots; New Delhi is national capital. And Calcutta,…well, it’s the city of joy, for whatever reason, and you’ve got trams and (had) hand-pulled rickshaws. But what does Chennai, Madras+MNITC’s+latenight hangouts, have?
-And here ends the thoughts that occur to someone who should actually be sleeping at this hour–
Sad, Thennavan, Sad! Hope Kollywood wakes up to this fact.
Navneeth,
Interestingly New Delhi has GB Road, Bombay has Kamathipura and Calcutta has Sonagachi. Even Bangalore has MG Road, Yeshwantapura etc. Poor Chennai, there must be something interesting like this for film makers to take interest. Are you a northie, BTW?
I think there can be a movie made about Chennai quite easily showcasing the city culture and tradition. If Bagalore has MG road, we have Beach Road, Anna Salai which is full of new and old buildings and the ECR which absolutely will beat MG road hands down or anything in Delhi. We have much more culture that any other metro in Hindia so it will be quite easy to make a movie. I mean there has been movies made on local areas in Chennai so it wouldn’t be too hard to make it on the city.
deii.. ‘show cause’-aa?
veetikku auto dhan varum!
chennai kadhal
Noooo please…kollywood can show chennai only as full of pookiri’s and rowdy’s. Kollywood never showcased our culture well it only tarnished our image .
Sad Thennavan , The only way in which Kollywood can repay is by not only making a movie but also by changing the tem ‘Kollywood’ to something Chennai specific.We need to go for something Indian rather than mimicking Hollywood through Bollywood , Kollywood and Mollywood
You asked for “chennai”. But now a film more specific with a pincode attached is coming up shortly. it has been produced by SPB & directed by gangai amaran’s son – prabhu. CHENNAI 600 028.
I never said that we cannot make a film about Chennai, showcasing its history and culture. There can always be documentaries, but we need to make a docu. that makes a lot of money, and be something more than “Dei machan, Deviya, Satyama?” “Anda figura, inda figura?”
Jillu,
If you’ve been reading this blog’s comments for long enough, you’ll know that I’m an out-and-out “Madrasi,” though I don’t speak like Mahmood of yesteryears. :-) Have lived all my life here.
WTF is happenning? How come you belong to this group or do you belong to chennai? what about ‘chennai kadhal’ and ‘chennai-28’
Chennai Metblog authors please moderate new posts among yourselves before publishing it. Lame posts one after the other are hitting us, do a self -review before publishing…
AC, let me start off with you in the reverse direction. I referred to movies with just the title “Chennai” or “Madras” and compared movies that just had the city name “alone” (as I have also mentioned in my post) and provided the search results also for comparison. Your lack of English reading skills is not my problem :-).
Vijay, my opening sentence of this post refers to a previous post whose subject was the very movie you have referred :-).
NC, I guess Kollywood has come to say although I too would prefer to call it the “Thamizh movie industry”.
Neoflys, well Kollywood did showcase the “Madras Baashai” in all its glory right from the days of Chandrababu and made it more popular :-).
Vatsan, I wanted to mention in my post no “Chennai+something” titles as excuses, but forgot :-).
KK, nee dhaan adhellaam arrange panra KK-vaa (kirukku kuvaan)? :-)
SJ, no one has yet made a movie titled “Chennai” or “Madras” whether or not the subject matter itself is about the city (and since in any case most movie storylines are far removed from their titles these days) :-).
Jillu, neenga enna “sigappu” manidharaa? Entire cinema industryaiye ippadi thaakkureenga? :-)
Navneeth, Chennai has much to offer someone interested in making a movie with the city name as the title. Coovum for starters :-).
Thennavan I believe a movie can be made about Chennai that reflects the culture of the city. It is not that hard this must be put forward to some directors and producers.
Idhukku oru posta ? ada kadavule….
Thennavan:
Here you go. This should keep you happy for a while!
Movie Details
More On ‘Madras Eyes’
Type: Features
Rating: NR
Starring:
Madras Eyes
1998
PLOT DESCRIPTION
In this film within a film, Arun, an Indian director, is searching for an idea for his next film in the chaotic city of Madras. Suddenly he finds himself in front of a statue of the androgynous god Ardanari, who is half-man, half-woman. The ambiguity of this mysterious figure makes his imagination run wild. He begins a quest, which leads to Sharda, a young eunuch who agrees to tell the story of his life. Sharda’s story blossoms against the background of the fantasies of Arun as in a popular Indian film. The relationship between the two is very intense and complicated. One day Sharda disappears — in film and in reality. Madras Eyes was shot in Southern India in a real eunuch community where men dress and behave like women. Italian Ilaria Freccia started to make a documentary, but during the shooting, her perspective began to change, resulting in a drama partly based on real-life events. The director knows her material well as she has made several documentaries in India before. Madras Eyes was shown in the 1999 International Film festival in Rotterdam. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, All Movie Guide
Is this an attempt at humor?
Good idea Thennavan. Chennai would make a good setting for a modern Indian story that can weave in its culture, how it is changing, the social stresses involved and ultimately, how people in the city manage a balance between the old and the new. It can make for a gripping human drama relevanr for all of us with the city as a bacdrop. Masala, situations etc can be woven in of course! Hope someone like Mani Rathnam, Rajiv Menon or Gautham Menon re listening!
thennavan said “Vatsan, I wanted to mention in my post no “Chennai+something” titles as excuses, but forgot”
How Sweet?? Forgetting is no excuse!
Chennai is full of pokiris and Tamilians who can’t establish business for themselves they would rather be slaves to Hindians. Chennai is a disgrace for all Tamilians across the world it is an absolute hole full of Tamilians who have no self respect or shame they follow the rest of of Hindia like lambs and absorb there culture instead of preserving what is here. Chennai is a disgrace as a Tamilian I feel shame each time I come here.