Contributions to popular culture involving direct reference to the Sri Lankan Tamil community in Indian cinema are listed below. All communities that speak (or spoke) Tamil and originally came from Sri Lanka are included. Tamils of Sri Lanka today are a trans-national minority and are found across the globe. While most films on the topic are made in Tamil cinema, there has also been Malayalam and Hindi content on the area.
Portrayals of Sri Lankan Tamils in Indian cinema has regularly caused controversy, with any sentiments which are not pro-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), often being criticised in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. As a result, such films have often faced political pressures and threats from Tamil people in Tamil Nadu and the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora.
Indian cinema has often also been criticised for showing Sri Lankan Tamils as either militants or refugees, rather than as normal people. Key themes often covered by Indian filmmakers when including Sri Lankan Tamil characters in their films include the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, the end of the Sri Lankan War and tales of the stateless Sri Lankan diaspora in India and abroad.
Cast and crew members The following actors, actresses and film technicians are ethnically, at least partially, Sri Lankan Tamil by origin. The names are listed from earliest to latest year of entry into the industry.
Actors Bonda Mani, supporting actor (Pavunnu Pavunuthan, Thendral Varum Theru, Winner). Ceylon Manohar, supporting actor (En Kelvikku Enna Bathil, Mangudi Minor, Naan Potta Savaal). J. K. Rithesh, supporting actor (Kaanal Neer, LKG, Nayagan). Jai Akash, lead actor (Amudhey, Roja Kootam, Rojavanam). Suresh Joachim, actor (Sivappu Mazhai). V. I. S. Jayapalan, supporting actor (Aadukalam, Jilla, Madras). Vashanth Sellathurai, actor (Ilampuyal, Uyirvarai Iniththaai). Teejay Arunasalam, actor (Asuran, Thatrom Thookrom). Tharshan Thiyagarajah, actor (Koogle Kuttappa, Naadu). Someetharan, actor (Jagame Thandhiram, Iraivi). Aravindhan, actor (Aandavan Kattalai, Miga Miga Avasaram).
Actresses K. Thavamani Devi, actress (Rajakumari, Sakuntalai, Vana Mohini). Radhika, actress (Jeans, Keladi Kanmani, Kizhakku Cheemayile). Nirosha, actress (Agni Natchathiram, Inaindha Kaigal, Senthoora Poove). Vijayalakshmi, actress (Nagamandala, Bhoomi Thayiya Chochchala Maga, Friends) Poongkothai Chandrahasan, actress (Vaanam Vasappadum). Joshna Fernando, supporting actress (Irumbu Kuthirai, Marupadiyum Oru Kadhal, Siragugal). Madhumila, supporting actress (Mapla Singam, Romeo Juliet, Senjittale En Kadhala). Losliya Mariyanesan, actress (Friendship, Koogle Kuttappa). Sabby Jey, actress (Karthikeyanum Kaanamal Pona Kadhaliyum). Janany Kunaseelan, actress (Leo). Shaashvi Bala, actress (Ellaam Mela Irukuravan Paathuppan, Web). Raksha Cherin, actress (Thangalaan).
Technical crew S. M. Nayagam, film producer (Kumaraguru, Thaai Nadu). A. S. A. Sami, film director (Needhipathi, Rajakumari, Velaikari). V. C. Guhanathan, film director (Mangudi Minor, Minor Mappillai, Thanikattu Raja). Balu Mahendra, film director (Marupadiyum, Moondram Pirai, Sathi Leelavathi). K. Karunamoorthy, film producer (Aegan, Peraanmai, Villu). K. S. Thurai, film director (Ilampuyal, Uyirvarai Iniththaai). Subaskaran Allirajah, film producer (2.0, Chekka Chivantha Vaanam, Kaththi). Siva Santhakumar, cinematographer (Pisasu 2).
Musicians Niru, composer, (Kalabha Kadhalan, Rameswaram). M.I.A., rapper, (Slumdog Millionaire). ADK, rapper, (Kadal, Lingaa, O Kadhal Kanmani). Arjun, playback singer (Biriyani, Vaaliba Raja, Vanakkam Chennai). MC Sai, rapper (Ivanuku Thannila Gandam, Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir). Kharesma Ravichandran, playback singer (Yennai Arindhaal, Thani Oruvan, Kaappaan). Inno Genga, playback singer (Kavalai Vendam, Ko 2, Dharala Prabhu). Dhee, playback singer (Irudhi Suttru, Maari 2, Soorarai Pottru). Luksimi Sivaneswaralingam, playback singer (Bogan, Gangs of Madras). Navz-47, rapper (Action, Sarpatta Parambarai).
1980s in film Punnagai Mannan (1986) K. Balachander's romantic drama film Punnagai Mannan (1986) featured Revathi in the lead role as a Sinhala girl in love with a Tamil dancer. In one scene, she is kidnapped by Sri Lankan Tamils owing to the political tensions in Sri Lanka. At the time of release, the film became a talking point for showing a Sinhala person in a positive light.
1990s in film Unakkaga Piranthen (1992) Balu Anand's romantic drama film Unakkaga Piranthen (1992) featured the female lead and her grandfather, portrayed by Mohini and Janagaraj, as Sri Lankan Tamil refugees, who take shelter in a refugee camp in India.
The Terrorist (1997) Directed by Santhosh Sivan, The Terrorist (1997) had former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination and the Sri Lankan civil war as its backdrop. The film won a number of awards at international film festivals and actor John Malkovich, who first saw the film at the 1998 Cairo International Film Festival, subsequently adopted the film as an executive producer. Critic Roger Ebert has included the film in his series of "Great Movies" reviews.
2000s in film Thenali (2000) The comedy drama Thenali (2000), directed by K. S. Ravikumar, featured Kamal Haasan in the lead role of a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee, who has come to Chennai for psychiatric treatment. His numerous phobias had developed due to the trauma he encountered during the Sri Lankan Civil War. In order to get his Jaffna accent correct, Kamal Haasan took lessons from prominent television host, B. H. Abdul Hameed.
Kaatrukkenna Veli (2001) Pugazhendhi Thangaraj's drama film Kaatrukkenna Veli (2001) told the story of a former LTTE fighter moving to India. Actors including Arun Pandian, Khushbu and Sujitha portrayed Sri Lankan Tamils.
Nandhaa (2001) Bala's drama film Nandhaa (2001) featured the female lead, portrayed by Laila, as a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee, who takes shelter in a refugee camp in India.
Kannathil Muthamittal (2002) Mani Ratnam's family drama Kannathil Muthamittal (2002) was based on a short story, "Amuthavum Avanum" written by Sujatha. The film narrates the tale of a child of Sri Lankan Tamil parentage adopted by Indian parents, whose desire is to meet her biological mother in the midst of the Sri Lankan Civil War. Shoot schedules were carried out in the forests of Kerala to depict the base of the LTTE in northern Sri Lanka. Child actress P. S. Keerthana played the lead role of the child searching for her biological parents, whose characters were essayed by J. D. Chakravarthy and Nandita Das. Other actors who portrayed Sri Lankans included Pasupathy as a LTTE fighter, Sashikumar Subramani as a suicide bomber and Easwari Rao as a woman caught up amid the war. The film went on to win a record of six National Film Awards, the joint highest by any Tamil film.
Cyanide (2006) Directed by A. M. R. Ramesh, the Kannada film Cyanide (2006) had former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination and the Sri Lankan civil war as its backdrop. Also dubbed and released in Tamil as Kuppi, the film won critical acclaim upon release.
Aanivaer (2006) John Mahendran's war film Aanivaer (2006) was a love story amid the then ongoing Civil War in Sri Lanka. Distributed by an independent distribution company, Thamizh Thiraikkann, the film was released in Tamil diaspora areas in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The film was released in India the following year.
Kuttrapathirikai (2007) Directed by R. K. Selvamani, Kuttrapathirikai (2007) had former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination and the Sri Lankan civil war as its backdrop. The film began in 1991 and was stuck for fifteen years as the Censor Board refused to allow such a film with a drastic political message to be released. The film finally released in March 2007 with several cuts.
In December 2006, in a landmark judgement, the Madras High Court dismissed a petition filed on behalf of the Central Board of Censors against an earlier verdict by the court, allowing the screening of the film with an 'A' certificate after certain cuts. The petition had earlier alleged that the film supported the banned organization, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The scenes, which the censors wanted to cut, included the Tigers' training and police officers fleeing the venue, where Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated.
Mission 90 Days (2007) The Malayalam political action thriller film Mission 90 Days (2007) by Major Ravi was based on the assassination of Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and the following investigation.
Rameswaram (2007) Selvam's drama film Rameswaram (2007) featured the lead actor, portrayed by Jiiva, as a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee, who takes shelter in a refugee camp in India.
Other In Rajiv Menon's Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000), Mammootty's character as an Indian Peace Keeping Force soldier is injured by Sri Lankan Tamil militants during the civil war. He later notes that he holds no personal grudges and actions are common in war. In Moulee's Nala Damayanthi (2003), Geethu Mohandas plays a Sri Lankan Tamil Christian. In Susi Ganesan's Thiruttu Payale (2006), comedian Vivek plays a spy posing as a Sri Lankan Tamil man from Batticaloa. In Kalinga (2006), Nandana's character is shown to be a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee. In Mann (2006), the Sri Lankan feudal system is highlighted. In Ilampuyal (2009), Vashanth Sellathurai plays a Sri Lankan Tamil residing in Denmark.
2010s in film Sivappu Mazhai (2010) In Sivappu Mazhai, Suresh Joachim plays a Sri Lankan Tamil who kidnaps Meera Jasmine's character demanding that a Sri Lankan refugee played by Alex be released.
Uchithanai Muharnthaal (2011) Pugazhendhi Thangaraj's drama film Uchithanai Muharnthaal (2011) told the story of a young girl from Batticaloa moving to India after being sexually abused. Actress Neenika starred in a lead role.
Billa 2 (2012) Chakri Toleti's Billa II (2012) was a prequel to Billa starring Ajith Kumar, and focused on how the lead character of David Billa, an ordinary man from the coastal regions of Sri Lanka, becomes a dreaded underworld don. Owing to the character's development arc, a Tamil academic noted "David Billa is the most desirable portrayal of an Eelam Tamil in Kollywood that any politically sensible Eelam Tamil would prefer".
Inam (2013) The war film Inam (2013) by Santhosh Sivan was announced as "a hard-hitting political film scripted around the LTTE-related strife and the death of its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran". In June 2012, Sivan stated "in Inam I want to look at the Sri Lankan situation from the perspective of a bunch of youngsters who get caught in the crisis. It's more about the outsiders' response to the horrors than about the politics". He also told that he will shoot in Sri Lanka after the rains and that he didn't want "Ceylon to look like a tourist's attraction". The film won widespread critical acclaim upon its release.
Post-release, following protests from Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TDMK) activists, who had attacked the Balaji Theatre in Puducherry, stating the film projects the Sri Lankan Civil War in bad light, four scenes and one dialogue were removed. After Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam politician Vaiko too severely criticized the film for being pro-Sinhalese, producer N. Linguswamy decided to stop screening and withdraw the film from theatres from 31 March 2014 onwards. He subsequently suffered major financial losses from the film's situation.
Madras Cafe (2013)