M.A.P // A.M.P

M.A.P // A.M.P

ACTIVISIM IN TAMIL CINEMA MUSIC with K.HARIHARAN & SUBHASREE THANIKACHALAM

An overview describing the various facets of Activism in Tamil Film Songs.

This project attempts to give the viewers the multi-dimensional nature of activism which led to Tamil cinema becoming unique in the ways that it approached and made possible the sensitization of millions of people to understand their own ‘Tamil’ identity.

This topic of Tamil Cinema and Activism needs to be studied at multiple intersections and it needs a layered approach to comprehend. When you go deep into the Dravidian movement from the 1920s onwards, you will realize how Tamil cinema took that impetus and raised it into a different level of awareness.

The episodes that you will see shall be like an excavation trying to retrieve these multiple pathways buried in the sands of time.

Interspersed with relevant songs, Subashree Thanikachalam, a walking encyclopaedia of Tamil film songs, and K Hariharan, film director, producer and writer shall analyse the layers of actvism and the undercurrent messages that guided a popular cinema movement thanks to their film songs, their writers, music composers and their iconic actors.

The video series commences with an Introduction episode followed by seven episodes highlighting the following:

• Focus on the social and political problems being faced by the Tamil citizens after years of colonial power and further worsened after independence by post-colonial misrule
• The evocative power of Tamil Language in the ways it can be used to describe and contest the existing cultural scenarios
• Invoking the rural farmers and urban working classes to step forward and make their voices heard
• Addressing concerns of women and children who usually get marginalized in most urban economic processes
• Advocating to preserve the rich and abundant environment was of equal importance if the Tamil people had to advance
• Cautioning urban developers and citizens about the growth of cities in reckless and unscientific ways which could harm progress
• All the above activism needed to be disguised cleverly and done in ways which need not hurt and demoralize fellow citizens.

What the episodes would like to communicate, as an undercurrent, is the importance to realize that activism need not always be focused on anger and furious expressions. The goal of Activism is to sensitize and get fellow citizens become sharply aware of the larger eco-sphere in which they are situated. Such activism encourages viewers and listeners to come up with their own independent initiatives to achieve their goals.

Tamil cinema and its massive growth/ influence stands testimony to such a collaborative enterprise undertaken by writers, music composers, actors and a long line of technicians. It is no wonder that Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is still today acknowledged as the main centre for cinematic growth and standards.

These episodes cannot obviously be exhaustive but it is made with the hope that you shall go back to rediscover these Tamil films and review them with a new perspective only because millions of Tamil speaking people have embraced them wholeheartedly as a mark of their new modern identity and continue to hear and sing them till this day!

This video series on ‚Activism in Tamil Cinema Music‘ will be launched as a media campaign on the Goethe-Institut Chennai Social Media handles and on the Project Homepage.

This will lead up to the climax of the project which will further culminate into a live concert of some of the most popular activist songs from Tamil films from the past 7 decades performed by talented young musicians presented by our star anchors K Hariharan & Subhasree Thanikachalam.

The Grand Finale Concert is on 26th August 2022 at 6.30 pm at Goethe-Institut Auditorium. We welcome you all to Goethe-Institut Chennai to enjoy and experience this exclusive recreation of activist Tamil film songs and to relive those moments and memories.

You-tube link to the entire Video Series on M.A.P//A.M.P - ACTIVISM IN TAMIL CINEMA MUSIC  
 
Click here for the poster!

All are welcome as per Pandemic Protocols*

*Pandemic Protocols @ Goethe-Institut Chennai

• A thermal scanning will be done at the Entry.
• Mask must be worn by all non-performers all the time.

We look forward to your cooperation to ensure safety for everyone.