CHENNAI: Three-film-old Pa Ranjith has achieved an unique feat. Two of his movies, Madras and the recent Rajnikanth starrer Kabali have thrown open a platform for a discourse on Dalit/oppressed class politics post their release. Dalit identity and politics is being discussed through mainstream cinema, a tool proven to be used effectively by the Dravidian parties.
Has Pa Ranjith brought the discourse which was restricted to cliques to the mainstream? The answers from the stakeholders, Dalit writers and politicians have been Yes and No.
Take the scene where Rajni utters a dialogue on the politics behind Gandhi shedding shirt and Ambedkar donning a suit. The lead character stresses the importance of being well dressed throughout the movie. “This, I see as a direct counter posed to the divisive politics of politicians such as PMK leader S Ramdoss,” Dalit writer Stalin Ranjangam told Express.
“They wear jeans, T-shirts and fancy sunglasses to lure girls from other communities,” PMK leader Ramadoss told media persons at a meeting proposing his idea to bring together the intermediate castes against Dalit assertion in 2012.
While Rajangam has problems with the director’s film-making, he asserts that Ranjith’s movies have brought the discourse to the mainstream. “That a star like Rajni is part of the movie only accentuates the discussion and people are eager to discuss Dalit identity,” he said. The Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS) Associate professor, C Lakshmanan, feels that Ranjith deserves appreciation for breaking away from the stereotypical portrayal of Dalits in movies. Earlier, the movies portrayed the status quo nature of social structure and politics. “Ranjith’s films, Madras and Kabali have strong anti-caste tones. Further, there is not even a single shot where the don is seen distributing clothes, food which is a feudal practice,” Lakshmanan said.
Those in political mainstream seem to differ. “The attempt is commendable. But, there is a risk of commodification of Dalit politics and the references in the movies are reduced to mere props,” VCK general secretary D Ravikumar said.