Susan Muthalaly

Tamil Identity in Cinema During War and Conflict: a Case Study of the Indian Tamil Film 'kannathil Muthamittal' in Relation to the Sri Lankan Civil War Susan Muthalaly

This book studies the representation of identity politics in the Indian Tamil film Kannathil Muthamittal, which deals with the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict. Drawing on the influential role of cinema in politics on the Indian subcontinent, and the perceived shared identity of the Tamil communities in Sri Lanka and India, the book researches the film in relation to the conflict. It discusses the differences in conception of the Indian Tamil identity and the Sri Lankan Tamil identity (in the film), and argues that the Indian Tamil is represented as politically and culturally superior and more empowered than the Sri Lankan Tamil. Using existing literature on identity formation and the socio-cultural history of Tamil identities of Sri Lanka and India as a reference point, the representation of the two Tamil identities in the film are analysed.