Vaasanthi writes in her "Cut-outs, Caste and Cine stars".
The old lady opened her eyes and looked out from the window of her air-conditioned car. "What are all those dear?", she inquired about the figures that dominated the skyline.
'Oh, those are cut-outs, Mother', said the official lightly.'Cut-outs of our chief minister.'
Mother Teresa craned her neck and looked up at the sky. Jayalalitha's head was hidden among the clouds.
'Good heavens,' said a shocked Mother Teresa, "it's so huge!"
Her escort was amused by her reaction. 'Have you never seen such cut-outs ?' she asked. Still watching the passing parade of cut-outs, Mother Teresa replied, 'No, nowhere in the world.'
Cinema wall posters and cut-outs can arguably be regarded as "unique" cultural symbols of South India, more particularly in Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh. These should probably be the only states (in the world) wherein cine-stars contested elections after starting a political party on their own and went on to become chief ministers of their states. In that sense, Cinema assumes an important part of the social lives in these societies and hence Cinema posters will have an all pervasive presence. Cinema posters in movies provide a curious reminder of this ubiquitous presence of cinema posters in tamilnadu.
A few observations on this ..
A "shot" of the cinema posters in movies, many a times, convey or summarise the mood or course of the film.
In period films, cinema posters are an "essential" prop to re-create the social atmosphere of the yesteryears.
M.G.Ramachandran and Rajinikanth are probably the most represented stars on the cinema posters (in movies).
Over to the Photo essay.
Iruvar (1997), Mani Ratnam
Thavamaai Thavamirunthu (2005), Cheran
Veyil (2006), Vasanthabalan
Thotta Chinungi (1995), K.S.Adhiyaman
Subramaniapuram (2008), Sasikumar
Mouna Raagam (1986), Mani Ratnam
Phantom India (1969), Louis Malle
Mannan (1992), P.Vasu
Aan Paavam (1985), Pandiyarajan
Suvar Illadha chithirangal (1979), K.Bhagyaraj
Vaaranam Aayiram (2008), Gautham Menon
Boss Engira Baskaran (2010), Rajesh
Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya (2010), Gautham Menon
