Its kollywood valentine

Our movies are obsessed with love. No one –scholar, film critic or film buff – has been able to say why. To someone not familiar with our cinema, it might look like the same love story is being narrated over and over again. But we know that our cinema contains myriad variations on love. And they aren’t all romantic love stories either. The transcendent love between God and devotee, filial love between parents and children/ brothers and sisters, and platonic love between friends has also been movingly explored over a century of Indian cinema. The black and white devotional classic Meera (with M.S. Subalakshmi), Pasa Malar, Mudhal Maryadhai, Five Star, etc have evoked different forms of love. So, remember that Valentine wishes are exchanged not just by lovers but also by family, friends, teacher and students and owner and pet.

Among the many romantic love stories told by Kollywood, some are milestones. Nenjil Oru Alayam , Pathinaru Vayathinile, Alaigal Ooivathilai Kadhallukku Maryadhai, Alaipaiyuthey, Moondram Pirai and Kadhal are just a few out of several unforgettable Tamil movie love stories. We’d also like to mention, for the record, some films about forbidden love – between student and teacher (Azhiyadha Kolangal) a fan and the object of her passion (Sindhu Bhairavi). Nine times out of ten, lovers on screen come together or fall in love because they find each other beautiful or charming. In Sindhu Bhairavi, K.Balachander gave us a more tangible reason: his lovers share a passion -in this case, a love for music. For classical singer Sivakumar and music aficionado Suhasini, it’s a meeting of minds, of two soul mates coming together. They complement each other perfectly: she is passionate about what he is passionate and recognizes his genius; he knows he has a true fan and connoisseur in her, a woman who understands his art, his needs and his passion. The tragedy, of course, is that he doesn’t find this in his marriage.