It is a frequent occurrence at my house to watch Tamil movies, so I have a minor bias towards watching them, but I can affirm that I enjoy watching them to the fullest. Being raised in a Tamil household certainly got me into watching them in the first place. Moreover, it was because my dad is a huge fan of them and decided that we would watch at least one Tamil movie together every week. This has been happening for the longest time now, and it doesn’t seem like it will end anytime soon.
Movies in general have been a comfort of sorts for me. For someone who does not play sports or games, watching movies and TV shows is the one thing I can even consider as a hobby. Growing up, I was in a school that mainly focused on academics, so I rarely had time to go out of my way and figure out a hobby that I liked. While I took a few classes in several different arts, nothing ever lasted but watching movies was consistent throughout it. It was something I loved doing not only with my family but also something I could talk about with my friends, sparking quite a few enjoyable debates.
The main reason I enjoy Tamil movies is not the storyline but rather the culture it depicts. As someone who’s rarely gone back to India (my home country), my definition of culture was still iffy. Seeing the depiction of family and culture in Tamil films really helped me to connect to the part of me that I had buried deep down. Another thing that Tamil movies helped to show me was the beautiful locations in India. The breathtaking scenery and gorgeous greenery which could only be seen there was something I missed out on. So, I was able to see so many different parts of Tamil Nadu while watching these movies, and more so, the not so pretty areas that were rich in their history.
Having watched English, Spanish, Korean and Japanese shows and movies, I think it’s pretty clear that I’m not particularly fussy when it comes to movies. But I can definitely say that Tamil movies have a special place in my heart. Although, I will say that the events portrayed rarely occur in real life. As someone who loves romantic movies, the romance portrayed in Tamil movies is exaggerated to a whole new level. But I won’t lie, it is entertaining to watch and at least 99% of the time, the leads end up together, thus providing escapism from all the failed romantic endeavours that we experience in real life. Another factor that is fictional is the overdramatic fight scenes. The editing is, frankly, next-level and it sometimes makes me want to believe it’s true, even though it isn’t. Still, who doesn’t want to believe that Vijay or Suriya isn’t gonna come and beat up all the bad guys in our life and make our troubles go away?
The debate of Tamil vs Malayalam movies is one major result I have seen from watching Tamil movies. This is something that many South Indians, I included, could argue for days about. Such arguments often end up with no outcome rather than wasted time, but it’s enjoyable. The silly points I came up with to defend Tamil movies managed to surprise even me.
I can proudly say I enjoy watching these movies and will probably continue watching them for the rest of my life. The culture that is showcased is something I really wish to experience for myself in the latter stages of my life and, although it is not only because of the movies, Tamil movies have just strengthened my desire for it. But even now, it’s something I can talk about, have disagreements or debates with my friends and family, and simply just enjoy the fun it offers.