Best Tamil Movies Based on Minorities

On the topic of the Best Tamil Movies Based on Minorities, Tamil Cinema has been a medium for many to talk and preach their socio-political ideology. The political stalwarts of Tamilnadu, including former Chief Ministers like C. N. Annadurai, Kalainger Karunanidhi, MGR and Jayalalithaa, have a strong affiliation with Tamil movie Industry. Most of them began their careers as screenwriters and actors before venturing into politics.

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In the 80s and 90s, several films glorified the upper castes peoples. Every other movie had the protagonist hailing from the prominent castes of Tamil Nadu. Actors like Manivannan, Satyaraj and Goundamani were the only few people who voiced the oppressed people through their thought-provoking dialogues and comedies. Yet, the upper caste had their dominance over them in several ways.

But with the change of generation and widespread propagation of the teachings of social activists like E. V. Ramasamy Naicker alias Periyar, and B.R. Ambedkar, the filmmakers have started to incorporate and discuss the problems faced by the minorities and the oppressed. Films like Joker by Raju Murugan and Kaaka Muttai by Manikandan were significant in addressing social injustice in a certain way.

However, the extensive and rampant preaching were instigated by Directors Pa. Ranjith, Mari Selvaraj and Vetri Maaran. Here, we will discuss their films and how they have taken the age-old issues which are still prevalent in modern-day society and how these young directors are voicing the voiceless. Presenting the Best Tamil Movies Based on Minorities.

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7. Madras

Director – Pa. Ranjith
Streaming Platform – Disney+ Hotstar

[Also feat. in our ‘Best Tamil Movies on Hotstar’ list]

After having some subtle, emotional dialogues about how education is key to upliftment in his directorial debut: Attakathi, Director Pa. Ranjith comes up with another movie hidden and loaded with his socio-political viewpoints. Madras has Karthi, Kalaiarasan and Regina Cassandra in the lead.

It narrates the story of how an ordinary wall is projected as a symbol of status and authority in North Madras and deals with the politics behind it. Director Pa. Ranjith’s political ideology is appreciated for the way it was delivered as an engaging story and not as preachy propaganda.

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6. Pariyerum Perumal

Director – Mari Selvaraj
Streaming Platform – Prime Video

[Also feat. in our ‘Best Tamil Movies on Amazon’ list]

In Pariyerum Perumal, debutant director Mari Selvaraj goes straight for the jugular about anti-caste. The first ten minutes of the movie is arguably one of the best opening scenes in Tamil cinema. The film opens with the dog, Karuppi, killed by members of a different caste, and this gets to be the point for the narrative to take off. Selvaraj has thoroughly filled up each scene carefully, giving the viewers the chance to look at how things are from the perspective of a lower-caste individual.

Therefore, we find ourselves attached to the protagonist from the get-go, taking part in his shame, beatings, and happy moments. While Karuppi might have only lasted 10 minutes in the film, she is the very fulcrum of which the film placed. A metaphor for the prevalent class and caste oppressions that still occur in India, this movie attempts to answer its question with the climax scene. One of the Best Tamil Movies Based on Minorities.

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5. Kabali

Director – Pa. Ranjith
Streaming Platform – Prime Video

Kabali revolves around an ageing Don who gets released from prison after 25 years to battle his nemesis, a drug lord. While the core plot of Kabali is structured around the life of the protagonist, Pa. Ranjith crosses the state boundaries and talks about the oppressed globally with Kabali. Unlike his previous films, Ranjith decides to hit the majoritarian people, which influences one’s position in the society and criticises in a subtle yet vigorous manner.

Kabali was a slow-burner of a movie in some parts, and in others, it was a little rushed. However, if you are an admirer of Super Star Rajni Rajnikanth, this is one of those films you can watch to see him ‘act.’ One of the Best Tamil Movies Based on Minorities.

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4. Kaala

Director – Pa. Ranjith
Streaming Platform – Prime Video

[Also feat. in our ‘Best Tamil Movies on Amazon’ list]

Next on the list of the Best Tamil Movies Based on Minorities, right off the bat, I can appreciate the amount of thought that went into Kaala. It is a feat for any director to not cater to what the people want to see (Bouts of Rajinism). However, director Pa. Ranjith made sure he had his share of control on how the movie should flow.

While the inner workings of the movie explore the contrast between the protagonist and the antagonist, the film itself is two conflicting forces of Ranjith political viewpoint of caste struggle and the macho trappings of a Rajinikanth narrative working together. The politically rich’s dominance over the oppressed and the latter’s resistance towards it beautifully picturised using the shade of colour and various other metaphors throughout the movie.

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3. Vada Chennai

Director – Vetri Maaran
Streaming Platform – Disney+ Hotstar

[Also feat. in our ‘Best Tamil Movies on Hotstar’ list]

You can always count on the Vetri Maaran-Dhanush combination for a cinematic treat. Their latest outing, Vada Chennai, a gritty crime thriller, revolves around a talented Carrom Board player and how his life turns upside down when he is embroiled in a gang war. Director Vetri Maaran is a master of his craft, and his style of realistic detailing and brilliant characterization sets the tone for the movie.

One of the Best Tamil Movies Based on Minorities, it transits from timeline to timeline, and we watch the growth of the protagonist, Anbu (Dhanush), from boyhood to manhood in a series of topsy-turvy narratives. Vada Chennai shares similarity with Pa. Ranjith’s Kaala. The struggle of the oppressed to have rights over their land. And the politicians are trying to throw people out of their living space. It was overshadowed and left out without discussing as the film was labelled as a gangster film, and no one noticed the underlying theme of the movie.

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2. Asuran

Director – Vetri Maaran
Streaming Platform – Prime Video

[Also feat. in our ‘Best Indian Movies on Amazon’ list]

Asuran can pretty much conclude as The rise of the oppressed. If you consider the above five films as a minority-oppressed-voicing universe, Asuran will serve as the end game for it. The story deals with Sivasami, a lower caste farmer tolerating all the oppression and abuses put forward by the upper caste, only to requite them later when the casteism goes beyond threshold limits.

Based on the real-life Kilvenmani massacre which occurred in 1968, Asuran showed the anger of the oppressed, who have tolerated decades of mistreatment. The power dynamics of caste in society are strong, and not many get it. If caste and religion influence any space of peoples position and role in the community, then that is a matter of concern. Vetri Maaran is more skilful in handling this complicated subject and shows his maturity. One of the Best Tamil Movies Based on Minorities.

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1. Karnan

Director – Mari Selvaraj
Streaming Platform – Prime Video

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar famously said, “Educate, Agitate, and Organize.” His ardent follower Mari Selvaraj is supposedly following it with his films. His debut film, Pariyerum Perumal, is primarily relating to educating people about the caste-based crimes and oppression still prevalent in modern-day society. His second film, Karnan, is about agitating against all the oppressions. And his next film, again with Dhanush, will complete the assumed trilogy.

One of the Best Tamil Movies Based on Minorities, Karnan from get-go represents itself as the vision of Director Mari Selvaraj and agitates against all the mistreatments. He uses the power of visual symbolism and metaphors to his benefits, which drives the film. The scenes of resistance, defence and boldness against oppression, culminating in the gut-wrenching climax, makes Karnan a profound movie. Backed by stellar music from Santhosh Narayanan and star-performer Dhanush in the titular role, Karnan is a raging cry of the voiceless, desperate to be heard.

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A Collaborative Effort with Siddharthen

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