Celebrated worldwide every year on the 8th of June, Ocean Day was officially recognised by the United Nations in 2008. The day aims to draw attention towards our vital connection to the oceans and to promote conservation. It is impossible to deny the ocean’s significance in our everyday lives. The ocean could mean many different things to us. For some, the memory of the ocean could resemble home, for some, it could mean escape, and for others, reminiscing about the ocean could flood their hearts with love and longing.
Life imitates art, they say. So, what better way to honour the ocean than to immerse oneself in the nostalgia of ocean elements in Tamil cinema and the overwhelming range of emotions they convey.
Maryan (2013)
In recollecting the depictions of the ocean in Kollywood, one will, by default, instantly hear Shaktisree Gopalan’s soulful humming bit from Yenga Pona Raasa, which carries the emotional weight of longing and separation in the film Maryan (2013). This film, which follows the lead characters, Maryan and Panimalar, played by Dhanush and Parvathy respectively, is one that is set against the backdrop of coastal life. The ocean in this film not only stands as a symbol of livelihood, but it also conveys a sense of community, as evident in the lines “…Nethili kozhambu vaada… otha mara kallum uppu karuvaadum…” in which Maryan is reminiscing about the ocean life that he longs for while stranded thousands of miles away from home.
Kannathil Muthamittal (2002)
Another film that vividly explores the idea of belonging and separation using the ocean is Mani Ratnam’s Kannathil Muthamittal (2002). Centred on Amudha, this film discusses themes of motherhood and the cost of war to human lives. Closely resembling the amniotic fluid in the womb, the representation of the ocean in this film is a symbol of her origins and her birth mother. This is especially observed in the picturisation of a scene in which Amudha is facing the ocean, alone, wondering where her absent mother is and why she was abandoned, as well as the visually stunning music video of Nenjil Jil Jil from the same movie.
Goa (2010)
As mentioned previously, the ocean is also associated with its positive connotations, such as the sense of celebration and escape that comes with its serene qualities. In Goa (2010), the three lead characters make elaborate plans to flee their village in search of freedom and independence. Along the way, they decide to go to Goa, India, in hopes of starting a new life on their own terms. The ocean, in this sense, serves as a mode of escape and rebirth.
Manmadhan Ambu (2010)
Portraying the ocean as a means of escape is also exemplified in K.S. Ravikumar’s Manmadhan Ambu (2010). To take a breather from the chaos that her love life is, Ambu, played by Trisha, goes on a hiatus, taking a cruise across Europe. All the drama that slowly unfolds as the film progresses is consistently set against the backdrop of a water body.
Alaipayuthey (2000)
And of course, finally, how to miss the romantic aspect of the ocean? In Alaipayuthey (2000), the Mani Ratnam classic, the ocean was used at many instances as a metaphor, enhancing not only the film’s visual appeal but also the depth of Shakti and Karthik’s character dynamics. The title of the film in itself already talks to us about experiencing love in waves, expressing that in love, despite the highest and the lowest of tides, like the waves hitting the shores, love is endless. In the film, all of the crucial plot points are set against the backdrop of the ocean. Be it the scene that precedes Pachai Nirame or the unforgettable “Rendu nimisham” scene at the beach that slowly fades into Snehidhane, or even September Madham, that is set entirely on a beach, the ocean waves (Alai) are present throughout.
In essence, our human experiences of being emotionally synchronised with nature have been vividly depicted in the realm of the arts. The usage of this element in films and its undeniable success in evoking a range of emotions in us is just a consequence. This year, in commemorating World Ocean Day, let us be reminded that the cycles of the natural world and our simple existence will always be inextricably linked to one another.
Happy World Ocean Day!
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