Our world is increasingly hostile to the tiger, as evidenced by its seriously dwindling population. Kollywood, however, continues to strive hard to have the animal referenced often in popular media by returning to the cat family for title inspirations. The latest news that Vijay’s next film, his 58th, will be named Puli comes as little surprise to those of us who have kept our finger on Tamil cinema’s pulse for years. We are used to seeing animal names as titles. In fact, so comfortable with this trend are we that Singam no more brings to mind the image of a predatory cat, the king of the jungle; we dimly remember a moustached Suriya bellowing threats to a scared Prakash Raj. So, no, the surprise is not that Vijay’s latest has been named Puli ; it’s that no Tamil film so far has been. Surely, some filmmaker must have registered it and kept it off limits all these years?
We have, over the years, seen interesting variations of ‘Puli’. We had Paayum Puli (Pouncing Tiger), the superhit Rajinikanth-starrer nearly 30 years ago. More recently, 2011 saw two variants, Jiiva’s Singam Puli (Lion, Tiger) that fared moderately, and Aadhi’s Aadu Puli (Goat, Tiger), another average grosser. Clearly, something about a tiger seems to work at the box office, as last year’s Kutti Puli (Young Tiger) starring Sasi Kumar did well at the box office, despite unfavourable reviews. You can understand if Vijay finds his upcoming film’s title rather assuring, given its exalted history, even if he himself hasn’t had great success with titles drawn from the animal world.
His Kuruvi (Sparrow) was a huge letdown, as was Sura (Shark) in 2010. Kuruvi , a word that also means a low-level contraband carrier, is quite interesting, as unlike the aforementioned titles, it has actual associations with the story. There are similar titles that are drawn from the story unlike, say, Siruthai , whose story has nothing to do with a cheetah. Naan Ee is about a man who takes rebirth as a housefly; Kumki is about a trained elephant; Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai (Azhagarsami’s Horse) and Agraharathil Kazhuthai (Donkey in the Brahmin Quarters) are exactly what they mean; Irumbu Kuthirai (Iron Horse) is about a superbike; and finally, Pulipaarvai (Sight of a Tiger) is a story about LTTE.
The truly curious titles are those that have little to do with the story. Singam , for instance, is about the exploits of a policeman called Durai Singam — you shouldn’t be surprised at all if his name was simply an afterthought after the makers decided on the film’s title. “Shanmughasingam? Ratnasingam? Wait. Durai Singam? Gotcha!” This naming convention reminds you of the countrified name Kaalaiyan, whose abbreviation becomes Kaalai (Bull). Kaalaiyan, of course, was the name of Rajinikanth in his 1980 superhit Murattu Kaalai (Rogue Bull).
There’re two other examples of the protagonists being named Kaalai — Seerivarum Kaalai (Menacing Bull) that marked the ill-fated return of Ramarajan in 2001, and again, Murattu Kaalai in 2012, a remake of the Rajinikanth original starring Sundar C that released three years ago to lukewarm reception. In between, there was also Silambarasan’s Kaalai that released in 2008. Clearly, our protagonists like the tiger, and well, if not the tiger, which other animal looks as imposing, stands as a symbol of virility, has the potential to destroy everything in its wake with brute force? Well, the bull, of course. Meanwhile, Murattu Kaalai isn’t the only instance of two films sharing the same title borrowed from wildlife. We also have Kazhugu (Eagle) — while the old film was, again, a Rajinikanth-starrer, the new one that starred Kreshna released in 2012.
Ah, Kazhugu , our first avian reference! Giving company to the eagle is the woodpecker which finds a solitary representative, even then in the form of a pun, in Manam Kothi Paravai (2012), where the word Manam (heart) replaces Maram (wood). Let’s also not forget the cheeky Rettai Vaal Kuruvi (Two-tailed Sparrow) (1987), a sly reference to its two-timing protagonist. Otherwise, apart from, say Cuckoo (2014), and Mynaa (2010), there are barely too many titles drawn from the names of specific birds. The broad category of the bird world (Paravai), however, is another matter. There is the famous Sivaji-starrer Puthiya Paravai (New Bird). There’s also Vasanthakala Paravai (Spring Bird), again from at least two decades ago. The most recent iteration is 2012’s Neerparavai (Seabird), a much-appreciated film. We aren’t yet done with general categories though, as Mirugam (Animal), Aadhi’s debut film, shows.
As for dogs, apart from Sibiraj’s recent hit, Naaigal Jaakirathai (Beware of Dogs), you can only think of the box-office dud Nadunisi Naaygal (Midnight Dogs). Man’s best friend, it seems, isn’t quite Kollywood’s best friend. Also, for a state that has among the longest coastlines in the country, Tamil films quite curiously seem to keep their distance from aquatic life for the most part. There was a Mahendran film in 1981 called Nandu (Crab), and if you count Kayal (Fish) — director Prabhu Solomon has been on a roll with Mynaa (2010), Kumki (2012) and now, Kayal — and the recent Thanga Meenkal (Gold Fish), there isn’t much at all. Meanwhile, the fox finds a representative in Kullanari Koottam (Leash of Foxes), the elephant in Pattathu Yaanai (Royal Elephant) and Vaaranam Aayiram (Thousand Elephants), the rabbit in an upcoming film called Mosakutty , and the wolf, a lone representative in Mysskin’s Onaayum Aattukkuttiyum (The Wolf and The Lamb). On a side note, I bring to you the irony of Mysskin’s production house being named Lone Wolf Productions.
The overall verdict is painfully obvious though. The predilection is for terrestrial animals, and amid those, the strongest and the most brutal such as lions, tigers and bulls are coveted choices. This is an industry whose stories usually find resolution in the brute force of their rampaging hero, and is it any surprise then that the monkeys, the dolphins, and the cats are left to fend for themselves? Much like in the forest, it is a case of the survival of the fittest here. While it remains to be seen if Kollywood is able to come up with more variations of lions and tigers, one variation that we can safely say will be ignored is Kazhutha Puli (hyena).
The animal is just not macho enough for our heroes, and for heaven’s sake, it scavenges on the remains left by other animals. Our protagonists smoke their enemies themselves, and like their meat fresh.
