What’s with Tamil cinema and North Madras? In the last few years, Kollywood has increasingly become obsessed about telling stories revolving around these neighbourhoods and showcasing protagonists based there. But the residents of the area seem not too pleased with this development.
In fact, recently, a few of them got together to stall the shooting of upcoming Tamil film Champion. They relented only after the film’s director gave a written undertaking that the film did not have any negative connotation about North Madras. MetroPlus speaks to a few prominent North Madras personalities on their take on how the area and its stories have been told on the big screen:
Vinoth K, Founder, Ocean Awareness
Why would filmmakers want to show us on the big screen in the first place? Wherever we go, the first thing people ask is: “Where are you from?” We’re looked down upon when we say we hail from North Chennai. In a way, the area has become our identity, irrespective of whether you’re educated or not. Do you think Saidapet, Anna Nagar, Thirumangalam and other areas are free from crime and gangsters? Then, why is it that filmmakers specifically target North Chennai? After watching the recent Vada Chennai , my friend from Dubai called me and said, “It feels as though I’m walking without clothes.” That’s the impact the film left on us. In the film, Anbu (played by Dhanush) says, “You have to do rowdyism if you want to protect your identity.” What if people take this seriously, thinking that violence is the ultimate solution to common man’s issues?
I’m not saying that filmmakers should only show us in a positive manner... but there needs to be some balance. Take Irudhi Suttru, for instance. It showed the challenges faced by a woman hailing from a low background.
— Vinoth K, Founder, Ocean Awareness
Vanniarajan S, Nethaji Samuga Sevai Iyakkam
I haven’t watched Vada Chennai yet, but I’ve been told that the film has wrongly portrayed North Chennai, especially Kasimedu. Yes, there was a time when Kasimedu was synonymous with gangsters and violence. But people have evolved over the years. Today, almost every household has a degree holder. I think it was only in the late 2000s that filmmakers started writing scripts around North Chennai. They need to be extra careful when they make a film about a particular community or area.
— Vanniarajan S, Nethaji Samuga Sevai Iyakkam
R Murthy, Founder, IDream Cinemas
Vada Chennai does not represent today’s reality of the community. Though goonda ism may have existed in the ’80s, the situation has drastically changed and there’s very little crime happening in this part of the city. A sensible filmmaker like Vetri Maaran has let us down with this film. When people already have a preconceived notion about the area, Vetri Maaran should have at least made a reference, saying that the scenario is different now. A lot of successful businessmen have come from this part of the city. In fact, North Chennai has one of the city’s best labour force. But none of those things have been portrayed in films. Every filmmaker has the right to showcase what he wants... but not at the cost of hurting people’s sentiments. Cinema is a powerful medium and it’ll take years to change the false impression created by filmmakers on North Chennai.
— R Murthy, Founder,iDream Cinemas
Dr J Parthiban, Sri Hospitals, Tondiarpet
Incidents revolving around gangsters and shootouts happened more than 25 years ago in this area. The biggest problem is that filmmakers are portraying that even now! A lot of modernisation has happened in recent times, and people here, especially youngsters, are doing a lot of interesting things. There are many prosperous industrial units and businesses here but directors keep bringing up a gangster angle, maybe to add masala to their scripts.
— Dr J Parthiban,
Sri Hospitals, Tondiarpet
DIRECTOR’S CUT
Director Gopi Nainar
North Chennai is generally perceived as a place where criminals thrive. Tamil cinema too reiterates this perception. But, the story of the people in North Chennai is truly tragic. Tamil cinema has always had a flat view of reality. It just observes events and reproduces them without going deep into the psyche of why there is crime in North Chennai.
— Gopi Nainar toThe Hindu in August 2018
Vetri Maaran
The world of North Chennai has always been stereotyped in films. I can’t deny the fact that Vada Chennai isn’t part of that world. However, the gangster angle is just a fraction and doesn’t determine the entire landscape. A person from North Chennai spoke to me in detail about its history and underworld. I think it’s wrong to use the word ‘underworld’. Counter-economic would be more appropriate. When people are left to survive without any support from the Government, this counter-economy and counter-existence come into place, which are intentionally created by the system. These are some of angles I looked into while I started writing it in 2003.
— Filmmaker Vetri Maaran
