5 Characters That Redefined Manhood And Heroism In Tamil Cinema

Who is a hero! as per the conventional Tamil cinema. Someone with a muscular frame, charming appearance, a goon-thrashing and damsel-saving white knight. Indeed! Now narrative has been gradually changing over the past decade. We’ve been seeing some really well-written male characters who have broken many stereotypes.

Let's explore the characters that broke stereotypes and set new narratives of manhood. From Maaran to Satyadev, here are five of my favourite characters that redefined heroism in Tamil cinema.

Tamil Male Characters Break Stereotype

Maaran from Soorarai Pottru

Maaran’s potential suitor, Bommi, tells him that he should first take a step towards making his dream come true before getting married. Without letting this hit his male ego, he takes it as a push and begins to work on his dream project, while Bommi starts her own business. Later, the duo get married, and when Maaran faces a loss in his business, Bommi becomes the breadwinner, which doesn’t affect Maaran’s ego. He doesn't shy away from taking financial and emotional support from his spouse, but he doesn't rely on her to fix him. He finally makes his dreams come true out of sheer determination, persistence, and hard work.

Satyadev from Yennai Arindhal

Satyadev’s proposal to Hemanika, a divorced single mother, is a breath of fresh air in Tamil cinema. He disregards society’s misconception that a woman’s worth lies in her virginity. He says that he only wishes to be Hemanika’s spouse and Isha’s father and doesn’t plan on having another child. He also says that "they together have to save up for their daughter’s future," meaning that they will be two financially independent individuals even after marriage. Following Hemanika's death, he raises Isha as his own daughter.

Sakthi from Kanden Kadhalai

Sakthi is a real man with real problems. He is nothing like the typical macho hero we see on screen, from his not-so-muscular frame to his nerdy spectacles and gentle face. He doesn't play moral police or judge the overly friendly Anjali for travelling alone or talking to strangers. Instead, he just chooses to ignore her. When Anjali repeatedly holds him responsible for missing her train, he escorts her back to her hometown like a real-life man rather than a "conventional hero." He does not cling to Anjali for help but instead draws inspiration from her optimism and rebuilds his life. He doesn’t take advantage of her situations, be it on the night where they spend in a hotel room or when she is in a vulnerable state. Although he loves her, he only helps her feel better when she is abandoned by her boyfriend and doesn’t try to establish himself as her new romantic interest.

Saran from "Anel Meley Pani Thuli"

Despite having minimal screen presence, Mathi's fiancée, Saran, is one of the finely written male characters. In the scene where he is comforting Mathi, he says, "I'm not sure how to express what I feel, but no matter what, I’ll always be with you." He doesn’t exhibit heroism or turn into a white knight, and neither does he mansplain. In another scene, his family advises him to call off the engagement after Mathi’s perpetrators upload her naked video online. Saran doesn’t deliver dramatic dialogues or growl at his family and storm out of the house. Again, he exhibits no heroism, drama, or toxic masculinity. He simply reasons with his family with valid points and makes them realise their narrow-mindedness.

Chandru from Jai Bheem

Chandru is the perfect example of a male ally. He listens and empathises with Sengeni’s problems and fights on her behalf as her lawyer, not as a savior. His only intention is to support Sengeni and help her get justice. Being a lawyer gives him the resources to voice his support, and he never dominates the scenario. He understands that the issue is about Sengeni and her people, and he only extends his support as a lawyer. At no point does Chandru exhibit heroism or toxic masculinity. Though Chandru's character and the plot are heavily inspired by real-life events, many of us weren’t aware of Advocate Chandru before Jai Bheem. This movie has been an eye-opener and an inspiration.

My intention is not to glorify any of these characters, because this is the bare minimum. This is how men are supposed to be. But isn't this behaviour yet to be normalised both on and off screen?

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