Thamizh Padam

C. S. Amudhan's 2010 Tamil film is a parody. It imitates the templates of mainstream Tamil cinema from beginning to end; the hero's birth, childhood, love and revenge are taken up in order and each stage rebuilt in exaggeration. The method is reshooting particular scenes almost exactly. Moments taken from well-known films are cut from their context, which makes visible how repetitive the template is. It is Amudhan's first film, made on a low budget with a largely unknown cast. The joke density is high and some do not land. The film became an unexpected box office success and a sequel followed. Who it's for: those who follow Tamil cinema and like parody. Who it's not for: viewers unfamiliar with Tamil cinema; nearly all the jokes rest on reference.