Kamalhassan's Ideology in his films

But saying that and holding it on principle, however much sincerely, doesn't simply mean he doesn't belong to "the larger community" (whatever it may be) as such. There are so many markers to one's identity and not all of it is a simple matter of choice. Some of the most immediate markers of Kamal's identity are squarely Tamil brahmin-esque.

And Kamal is not "admitting" it as much as realigning himself with it. In fact, there's very little to "admit" here! One "admits" only what's already suspected of one in some sense.

And what is my point? I think all these allegations of Kamal being anti-brahmin and anti-Hindu (while we're at it, shouldn't one also explain the difference?) is paranoiac. I simply maintain that there's nothing in his work or even his offline persona that suggests this.

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Originally Posted by equanimus

But saying that and holding it on principle, however much sincerely, doesn't simply mean he doesn't belong to "the larger community" (whatever it may be) as such. There are so many markers to one's identity and not all of it is a simple matter of choice. Some of the most immediate markers of Kamal's identity are squarely Tamil brahmin-esque.

And Kamal is not "admitting" it as much as realigning himself with it. In fact, there's very little to "admit" here! One "admits" only what's already suspected of one in some sense.

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Kamal had reiterated the above mentioned statement quite a few times in different interviews. Frankly, neither KH is interested to show himself as a brahmin / hindu, nor are the brahmins interested to show him as one among them. then how does he continue to belong to 'the larger community'? just because the others feel he is still one?

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Originally Posted by equanimus

And what is my point? I think all these allegations of Kamal being anti-brahmin and anti-Hindu (while we're at it, shouldn't one also explain the difference?) is paranoiac. I simply maintain that there's nothing in his work or even his offline persona that suggests this.

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you are free to decide it for yourself. the proof is in front of you :)

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Originally Posted by kalyan

Kamal had reiterated the above mentioned statement quite a few times in different interviews. Frankly, neither KH is interested to show himself as a brahmin / hindu

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I'm not saying he is interested in it, but that it's part of his identity anyway. Of course he's interested in making moves that distance him from the identity (and of course he'll keep reiterating it!), but that doesn't mean he simply ceases to be one.

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Originally Posted by kalyan

nor are the brahmins interested to show him as one among them. then how does he continue to belong to 'the larger community'? just because the others feel he is still one?

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"The brahmins" are not a one-dimensional group. Just like any other caste group. I suppose there are a lot of brahmins who see Kamal as "one among them," irrespective of whether he is a believer, considers himself a Hindu etc. or not.

And who are "the others" here? Those who aren't brahmins or Hindus (the difference still needs to be elucidated!)? If yes, the question perhaps to be asked is, if neither of them think Kamal belongs to their group, where does he actually belong?

I think it's absurd to see any society as an entity that's neatly divided into various teams like in a sports tournament.

I guess its time to include a poll in this thread. It need not only be about theist-atheist and so on. suggestions are welcome. :)

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Originally Posted by kalyan

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Originally Posted by equanimus

And what is my point? I think all these allegations of Kamal being anti-brahmin and anti-Hindu (while we're at it, shouldn't one also explain the difference?) is paranoiac. I simply maintain that there's nothing in his work or even his offline persona that suggests this.

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you are free to decide it for yourself. the proof is in front of you :)

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But I hope you noticed that I didn't use the term "anti-brahminic." There is anti-brahminism in some of his films (and of course there is a general sense of it in his public persona as well), but they don't have an anti-brahmin character. There is a significant difference, even if it's a bit cliched to say so.

What is the most obvious but unsaid truth here? One of the foremost reasons for characterizing Kamal as anti-brahmin is that he is a brahmin by birth. It's not hard to see this at all. There are a lot of people who have criticised brahminism. What makes Kamal special at all?

Others denouncing the traditional values of a caste/religion is one thing, but one of their own doing it is something else. So even some nominal gestures ('nominal' with respect to the ideological discourse in the larger society) are usually blown out of proportions. And Kamal is someone who has actually placed some nontrivial objections to the brahminic values. This is how, I think, we need to understand this.

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Originally Posted by kalyan

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Originally Posted by Vivasaayi

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Originally Posted by m_karthik

I feel Kamal don't hurt the brahmin sentiments much when he works with those people..
Especially K.Balachander, Singeetham Srinivasa Rao, Crazy Mohan(he is brahmin rite? :oops: ),
Gautham Menon.

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balachander's moviesd has alots of anti-forward class touches...

unnal mudiyum thambi gemeni charecter, VNS poornam charecter...

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But Balachander has never forsaken his religious identity.

when you still are a part of a religion/community and the negative feedback you give to them will often be taken as a constructive criticism which unfortunately is not the case with KH.

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Kalyan, you need to reassess and revisit their films if you believe KB's criticism is automatically constructive, let alone sincere, than KH.

This has segued for long, but I find these allegations 'paranoiac' in deed. Intensity towards Kamal's views of Hindus in general and Brahmins in particular, stems precisely because the dissenting polemist happens to be, in birth and flesh, formally akin.

Kalyan,

you are showing some bias.. You say its ambiguous and hence covert..

But you are able to decode whatever coded message Kamal puts in his movies against hindus/brahmins.. Those messages were also supposed to be ambiguous for the common man, but you are too intelligent..