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A decade of Tamil cinema
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A
New Year has dawned. But it is not just a New
Year it is also the dawn of a new decade. The
first ten years of the new millennium have passed
and that leaves us with a lot of memories, reflections
and thoughts going forward into 2011. Tamil cinema
is looking vibrant and full of energy, poised
to go on to greater heights, to take flight. An
industry that has completed its platinum jubilee
might not be called young, but that is how Tamil
cinema looks at the moment; younger and eager
to march forth into greatness that awaits and
the last decade has pushed us strongly in the
right direction.
For a measure of how much Tamil cinema has grown
over the decade, look at where we were in 2001.
A big budget film was one that was made on a double
digit ‘crore’ figure. Now, we are
looking at cinema that is being made at 3 digit
‘crore’ figures. The growth has not
been arithmetic or exponential; it has been almost
a giant quantum leap that Tamil cinema has taken
in terms of the investment and generated revenue.
Now, I do not know too much about
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world cinema economy, but I feel safe to say that nowhere
in the world would a film industry have recorded such
growth over this decade. That alone is reason to be
proud.
But, economics is not everything to an industry; especially
cinema which is all about creativity and artistic perfection.
Yes, it is cinema that generates the money and vice
versa. So, has the Tamil industry grown only the big
bucks or are we really rubbing shoulders with the best
in world cinema? There is no reason to believe that
we are not! Tamil cinema’s moment of the decade
(also one of the proudest moments in 75 years of Tamil
cinema) is certainly Rahman holding aloft the Oscar
statuette on that night of 2009. World cinema’s
biggest honor had been brought home. There were other
moments of pride too when Raam won honors at Cyprus,
Paruthiveeran was applauded at Berlin, Mani Ratnam’s
achievements recognized at Venice, Sivaji breaking into
the UK and South African Top 10, Dasavatharam featuring
in the International Top 10 and many more such moments
to cherish for everyone who takes pride in the richness
of Tamil cinema. Of course, this has not been the first
decade when Tamil cinema has been able to go beyond
borders. Legends like Sivaji Ganesan had already made
the world take notice. But, this is the decade where
going beyond boundaries has become more a rule than
an exception. Today, Indian cinema does not mean just
Bollywood (though Peepli Live is still going to the
Oscars)!
This has also been a decade that has seen a complete
cycle of commercialism and realism come to pass. The
earlier part of the decade threatened to push Tamil
cinema into the commercial-populist mould of cinema
with action packed entertainers and superhero stuff
being the preferred menu over anything else. Those were
the years of Dhool, Thirumalai, Saamy, Ghilli, Baba,
Thiruppachi, Sivakasi, Thirupathi etc. Though there
was the odd gem in the form of Anbe Sivam or the rare
braveheart attempt in the form of Pithamagan, it was
the commercial juggernaut that always walked away with
the big bucks. But, the final three years of the decade
took an unexpected and pleasant twist (almost inexplicable,
as if people suddenly grew tired of all that ‘over
the top’ heroism on screen) with blatant commercialism
receiving an emphatic kick from the audience. Yes, the
new generation audience was born and so were a new breed
of film makers. Tamil cinema was finding new heroes
(behind the camera). One thing has not changed though,
people still love to see Rajnikanth play the unconquerable
superhero; and that, is going to be the same forever.
The decade will thus be remembered for ushering in some
courageous and fantastic film makers and technicians
who will shoulder the industry for years to come: hopefully!
It was decade that introduced Ameer, Gautham Menon,
Sasikumar, Venkat Prabhu and a few other directors;
Harris Jeyaraj and G.V Prakash on the music front while
banners like S Pictures kept proving good cinema always
finds support within the industry. There was also a
proud moment for the industry when Gautham Menon’s
Photon Kathaas became the first south Indian production
house to be listed in an International Stock Exchange.
Yes, it has been a decade of growth and great hope for
the years that lie ahead. But, there were also moments
of loss and grief that still linger on. This was the
decade when one of the biggest names in the history
of Tamil cinema departed – Sivaji Ganesan; peerless.
Perhaps, he was the Bradman of Tamil cinema. Gemini
Ganesan, another giant from the same era too departed
this decade and it was as if an entire era finally closed
on us when the inimitable Nagesh breathed his last.
Shocking was the loss of Jeeva; the spring that could
not blossom. Sujatha’s departure too leaves a
big void in Tamil cinema in writing and it is sad that
he was not around to see one of his biggest dreams Endhiran
make huge waves all over the world. The intense expressions
of Raghuvaran too remain only a memory and so will be
Murali’s demise as we move on to the next decade.
It was a decade where many dreams came true, many dreams
realized, many new names born and embraced while some
legends took their final bow. As we look back at all
that we have been offered since 2001, there is nothing
but applause that we can offer this industry and its
brave men who keep coming up with ways of entertaining
us. Brave, not because they do superhuman things on
screen, but for the sheer fact that they soldier on
with their efforts and experiments without any assurance
of what might happen in return. There have been times
when we have been scalding and even dismissive in our
criticisms, but that has not deterred them from doing
what they believe in. Looking forward to another great
decade of Tamil cinema! Wishing you a Happy New Year
Kollywood!
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