A Study on Maamannan Movie and its Perceptions among College Students

Abstract

Although Tamil film has traditionally been used to highlight societal concerns, its stories frequently reveal underlying caste structures. Prominent Tamil filmmaker Mari Selvaraj has drawn notice and controversy for his anti-caste themes; his most recent film, Maamannan, has generated a lot of discussion. The film positions itself as a critique of caste injustice and highlights the significance of social justice. In contrast to previous Tamil films that quietly glorify caste pride without causing much public issue, Maamannan has drawn harsh criticism for supposedly spreading anti-caste views, especially on social media. This article investigates whether Maamannan's content actually promotes social justice or if it acts as a counternarrative by highlighting the caste pride of under-represented groups. Students participated in a focus group discussion to examine how they interpreted the movie's themes and takeaways. According to the survey, participants believed that Maamannan's philosophy was a significant societal issue deserving of cinematic attention. According to the research, movies like Maamannan have the potential to significantly increase public awareness and promote social change by provoking thought-provoking discussions about social justice and caste.